River sewage campaigners welcome drain upgrades

South West Water will build five storm tanks to separate rainwater from sewage

Campaigners calling for a halt to sewage discharges have welcomed news that local water drainage and storage systems are to be upgraded.

South West Water (SWW) said it would start the work in November but no timeline has been given for additional upgrades to the Lyme Regis (Uplyme) Sewage Treatment Works in Dorset.

The River Lim Action group said there were more than 800 hours of permitted sewage discharges into the river last year.

SWW is due to begin pre-construction investigations in the autumn with work continuing until March 2027.

Storm overflows act as safety valves, releasing excess wastewater to prevent sewage backing up into gardens or homes after heavy rainfall.

Vicki Elcoate of River Lim Action said: "We urgently need more storage so that rainfall is slowed down when it enters the system, and better separation of rainwater and sewage.

"We're pleased that investment is being made to reduce this, but disappointed that no date has yet been given for the essential upgrade to Uplyme Sewage Treatment Works."

SWW's head of local government affairs Alan Burrows said: "We met with the River Lim Action group and local partners recently to outline initial options to reduce storm overflows and listen to their feedback.

"We are actively working on these in more detail to design the right solutions for the area.

"We will share updates, including on Uplyme Sewage Works, during our regular quarterly meetings with stakeholders in Lyme Regis."

To improve surface water separation, new drainage trenches and pipes will be laid in key areas including Colway Lane, Somers Road, Clappentail Lane, Sidmouth Road, West Hill Road and Haye Close.

Five new storm tanks will also be built at Cobb Gate, Gosling Bridge, Jericho, Horn Bridge and Mill Lane to store excess rainwater before it is treated, reducing the need for storm overflows.

The upgrades are part of SWW's £760m Turning the Tide programme, working to reduce storm overflows across the region.