Lib Dems: Urgent answers needed after children in Devon fall ill following 16-hour sewage spill

EMBARGO: Immediate Release

The Liberal Democrats are demanding answers and a full investigation after several children became severely ill following a 16-hour sewage discharge by South West Water into the River Dart in the Chulmleigh and Chawleigh area.

After spending an afternoon paddling in what was believed to be a safe, local spot, five children from two families suffered severe vomiting and upset stomachs overnight. It was only later discovered via an online sewage discharge map that South West Water had dumped untreated sewage upstream for approximately 16 hours earlier in the week.

Up to 20 other individuals were reported to be in the river at the same time, raising serious concerns of wider public exposure. While customers face rising bills and families care for sick children, the Chief Executive of South West Water recently received a £270,000 bonus. South West Water’s owners, Pennon, also reported last month that they turned a pre-tax profit of £114 million, not long after they were handed a £1.8m fine for the 2024 Brixham cryptosperidium outbreak that hospitalised four people.

Local Liberal Democrat councillors are working with residents to push for action on this specific case to urgently prevent further public health harm, if it is found that the cause of the illness was down to South West Water. The cause of the children's illness is currently pending formal medical assessment, however the circumstances surrounding the prolonged sewage dump remain deeply alarming.

Liberal Democrat MP for North Devon, Ian Roome, said:

"It is absolutely infuriating that families in Devon are apparently expected to consult a live sewage map before allowing their children to paddle in a local river. Last year, South West Water spilled sewage into bathing sites across the region over 7,900 times, that’s 22 times per day. Enough is enough, and parents should not be made to feel guilty for letting their children enjoy nature, particularly during the weather we are seeing this week.

“South West Water keeps getting away with discharging filthy sewage into our rivers, and we will look with interest at the results of their tests."

Liberal Democrat Environment Spokesperson, Tim Farron MP, added:

“Hot summers are here to stay and naturally kids want to enjoy lakes, rivers and seas up and down the country, yet they are being put at constant risk by water companies.

“South West Water got their accounts back into the green but have put their customers in the brown.

“Flagrant abuses by water companies using their monopolies to carve out profits, at the cost of public health, is unacceptable. Children naturally want to paddle during this extreme weather but face the risk of sickness thanks to sustained sewage dumping across Britain. We cannot afford to hesitate - replace Ofwat with a clean water authority now."

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

• SWW profits (Times): South West Water owner back in profit after bills rise 28%
• BBC coverage of outbreak: Water firm fined £1.8m over parasite outbreak
• Data on the River Dart spill here. Please see the 11th entry, showing over 16 hours of discharge over Monday 22nd June and Tuesday 23rd June. The children went swimming on Wednesday 24th when their school was closed.