A STARK warning has been issued to businesses in Dawlish over contaminated water being poured into street drains.

Chairman of the town’s Chamber of Trade Neil Salter says it is a ‘serious issue affecting our town, our businesses and our environment’.

He says there will be a ‘zero tolerance’ approach to any businesses pouring contaminated water, including cleaning liquids into the drains.

Some of the drains run direct into the Brook and harmful chemicals poured down them can seriously affect the environment and wildlife.

He said: ‘Any contaminated water must be directed to a foul sewer or collected and disposed of correctly.

‘Discharging polluting substances into surface water without a permit is illegal and can result in fines or prosecution.

‘Businesses must ensure their activities do not cause pollution and must have appropriate disposal arrangements in place.’

Mr Salter said he visited several businesses in the town last year after personally witnessing them pouring cleaning fluid down the street drains.

He explained: ‘Assurances were given to me that this would stop.

‘Unfortunately, I witnessed this happening again by one of the businesses I spoke to previously.

‘This is not a minor matter.

‘Some of our street drains (surface water drains) flow directly into our Brook and local waterways.

‘They do not go through treatment systems.

‘This means any cleaning chemicals, detergents, or contaminated water enter the environment immediately and can harm wildlife.’

He said there have already been incidents of wildlife lost in the Brook due to poisoning where misuse of the drains was a possible contributory factor.

Only clean rainwater should enter surface drains.

Any contaminated water, including cleaning liquids. must be directed to a foul sewer or collected and disposed of correctly.

Discharging polluting substances into surface water without a permit is illegal and can result in fines or prosecution.

Businesses must ensure their activities do not cause pollution and must have appropriate disposal arrangements in place.

Mr Salter said: ‘We are now adopting a zero-tolerance approach.

‘We are working closely with WADE, local councils, and the Environment Agency.

‘Any further incidents will be formally reported.

‘This is about protecting our brook and wildlife and our town’s reputation.

‘We all benefit from a clean, thriving Dawlish. Let’s act responsibly and protect it.’

Town councillor and founding member of WADE Scott Williams pointed out there are more algal blooms this year on the water.

He said: ‘These are happening because we are getting readings of more phosphates and nitrates. These come from detergents, food waste, and organic matter.

‘Spills in to the brook act like fertiliser in the water, triggering rapid algal growth in the lower brook including the bay with the fountain in it.’

Meanwhile, Dawlish Town Council has repeated its warning that there should be no fishing in the Brook.

People should also mot enter the Brook for their own safety and to protect the environment.

Anyone age 13 or over must have a rod licence to fish for salmon, trout, freshwater fish, smelt and eel.

Most species in the Brook are classed as freshwater, so a licence will usually be required.

Anyone fishing without a valid licence can be fined up to £2,000.