AFTER last week’s sewage discharge scandals, water companies including South West Water are facing the strictest targets on sewage pollution ever under a new government plan to tackle sewage discharges in our waters.

In the last fortnight, Teignbridge experienced sewage discharges across its coastline, in Teignmouth, Dawlish and Holcombe as well as many other beaches and swimming spots across Devon. It was also revealed that across South West Water’s sewage network, 31% of their monitors measuring and tracking sewage discharges were faulty or not installed, meaning swimmers could be unknowingly swimming in sewage.

Companies are required to invest £52 billion over the next 25 years to increase network capacity, reduce leaks and effectively treat sewage. According to Defra, the plan will be: ‘The largest infrastructure programme in water company history to crack down on sewage spills and end pollution’

However, many are sceptical about how the project will be funded and orchestrated. As the cost of living continues to increase, many are concerned that South West Water and other companies will still fail to conduct the necessary improvements and will increase prices to cover any improvements they do manage.

It’s expected that the plans will cost the public an additional £42 a year by 2050, further exacerbating the cost of living crisis. Teignmouth Councillor, David Cox, said: ‘The measures are like shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted, normal customers shouldn’t have to have increased water bills for improvements that should’ve been done many years ago.’

Martin Wrigley, Dawlish Councillor, said: ‘They’ve privatised the profits and socialised the losses, I understand that there’s a lot of investment needed, but they’ve got the balance wrong between what they’re paying to bosses and shareholders and what they’re putting into keeping the system going.’

Previously, South West Water has stated: ‘We are currently delivering our largest environmental investment programme in 15 years, between 2020-25. We are investing £330 million over the next three years into our region’s wastewater network.’