East Devon District Council (EDDC) has unanimously passed a vote of no confidence in South West Water (SWW) following a series of pipe failures and sewage overflows in the area. The motion was approved at a full council meeting on Wednesday, with council leader Paul Arnott set to write to SWW and local MPs to lobby the government.
The council expressed alarm that SWW failed to notify it of sewage overflows in Exmouth, leading to reports of people and pets falling ill from exposure to untreated human waste during sea swimming. In December, multiple pipe failures occurred in Exmouth, including at the Phear Park Pumping Station emergency overflow outfall, where sewage was released into the estuary due to a burst rising main.
EDDC is demanding that SWW involve town and parish councils in discussions about ongoing and upcoming works, and establish a joint partnership with council officers and cabinet members. The council also wants SWW to work with its planning officers to manage pressures from new developments and proactively inform the public of overflows.
Council leader Paul Arnott said the local authority has no confidence in SWW's operational side, particularly in protecting key communities. He noted sewage coming up through streets and into the sea in Exmouth, and criticised SWW for failing to address infrastructure issues known about for over a decade. SWW responded that it is disappointed by the motion and will continue to deliver improvements, having invested £38 million to reduce spills at Exmouth.
The council will also ask MPs to lobby the government to revisit what it calls 'weak legislation' and resist SWW's request to raise bills by over 20% by 2030 until demonstrable action on sewage spills is taken.
