MP criticises South West Water over sharp rise in faulty sewage monitors

The number and length of sewage dumps from storm overflows is measured by Event Duration Monitors (EDMs). However, analysis of Environment Agency data revealed a rising number of monitors which do not work at least 90% of the time.

Some monitors have now been broken for two years. In Tiverton, South West Water’s sewage monitor is recorded as broken throughout 2021 and 2022, citing "sensor failure". It worked for 0% of the time for these past years.

Across England in 2021, the Environment Agency recorded 1,802 sewage monitors as not working all the time - 12% of all monitors. However last year, this had risen to a staggering 2,298 sewage monitors recorded as faulty - one in six (16%) of all monitors where sewage discharges took place.

This means the time and amount of sewage discharged into those areas is potentially greater than first feared. This underscores campaigners’ concerns that the truly scale of the sewage scandal is going unreported.

Liberal Democrats MP for Tiverton & Honiton Richard Foord said:
“Water companies like South West Water could be covering up a growing environmental scandal. What is the point of installing these so called ‘monitors’ if they don’t even work?

“The reality is that we don’t have a full understanding of just how dirty our coastlines, rivers and lakes are. The data released last week are just part of the story, given the growing number of sewage monitors found to be faulty.

“It is a national scandal that this equipment is left broken for up to two years, whilst people’s water bills soar, and water company senior executives continue to rake in bonuses and benefits worth more than one million pounds.

“It’s shocking that Conservative Ministers are letting them get away with this. Thérèse Coffey should be put out of her professional misery.  In her six months in post, it has been all talk and no action on the sewage crisis - we need an Environment Secretary who actually cares about protecting our environment.

“I will continue to fight to shed light on these practices and ensure South West Water properly cleans up their act.”