Sewage sparks no swim advice at city bathing spots

South West Water is being urged to fix unpermitted sewage discharge in a major waterway as a "matter of urgency".

The Environment Agency said following an inspection of a treatment works it had issued advice against swimming at two popular bathing areas on Plymouth Hoe.

It said it had identified "operational issues" at a plant on the River Plym, including unpermitted sewage discharge from a storm overflow, which one of the city's MPs described as "a dramatic failure of South West Water to protect our water quality".

South West Water said it was investigating and "working closely with the Environment Agency".

A spokesperson for the agency said South West Water's treatment works on the nearby River Plym were inspected on Thursday.

"Our officers identified operational issues on site, including what we consider to be an unpermitted discharge of sewage from storm overflow," it said.

"In light of this sewage discharge, we issued advice against bathing at Plymouth Hoe East and West.

"South West Water must address these issues as a matter of urgency. We will keep this matter under investigation."

Luke Pollard, Labour MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport, said on Facebook: "We should all take note of this serious warning.

"This is a dramatic failure of South West Water to protect our water quality.

"I have asked South West Water for urgent answers and a clear plan to put this right."

Hannah Mason, who found out about the warning after she had already swam at the Hoe, said: "I think it's a bit atrocious.

"I was aware of a discharge a couple of days ago so I was already going to be wary of the water.

"I think it's just disgusting that there's so much discharge in our waters."

Another swimmer, James Hodgson, added: "It's been going on for years all this difficulty with water."

South West Water said in a statement: "We are aware that the Environment Agency has issued advice against bathing at Plymouth Hoe East and West.

"We take these reports seriously and are investigating the situation while working closely with the Environment Agency."

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