Sewage released into Cornwall rivers and streams after Storm Bert weather chaos

Sewage overflows have been released across Cornwall after Storm Bert poured heavy rain across the county over the weekend. South West Water has revealed dozens of locations in the county, from Bude to Truro, which have been affected in its online interactive map.

The Cornish rivers and streams and beach areas that have had sewage discharged into them by South West Water include: Porth Nanven Stream, Longrock Stream, St Ives Bay, Praze River, Red River, The English Channel at The Lizard, Carnon River, Penryn River, Pill Creek, Tresillian River Estuary, River Fal, tributary of Porth Joke, River Amble, River Allen, tributary of River Fowey, Tremar Stream, River Carey and others.

Storm overflows releasing untreated sewage into rivers are used by the water company to alleviate pressure on the drainage systems in times of heavy rainfall, preventing a backup that could result in sewage flooding into residential areas. According to South West Water, a number of overflows have been activated across the county over the last 24 hours.

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South West Water is working to reduce its dependency on storm overflows over environmental and pollution concerns. This involves mitigating rainwater ingress into sewer systems, decelerating water movement in the environment and bolstering the capacity for sewage storage and treatment infrastructure.

A representative from South West Water explained the function of the overflows: "Storm overflows act like safety valves on the wastewater network. When the system becomes too full (for example, after heavy rain) storm overflows release the excess. If they didn't work, sewage would build up in pipes and flood into people's gardens and homes."

South West Water said it is working on plans to reduce the use of storm overflows 17.5 spills per location per year by 2030.

Earlier this month, the company admitted causing pollution incidents in both Cornwall and Plymouth. South West Water pleaded guilty to allowing raw sewage into Hooe Lake and polluting Budshead Creek, in Whitleigh, as well as Polperro Harbour in Cornwall.

The company admitted that between August 24 and 27, 2019, and not in accordance with an environmental permit, it caused a water discharge into Polperro Harbour, once again contrary to regulations.