Keep Your Head Above The Water

As we reach the end of term when school children traditionally celebrate by leaping into the cool waters of the Dart, there has been an increase in reports of illness among swimmers. A group of schoolchildren became very sick last week after swimming.

not fit for purpose.

Now the latest findings from water regulators OFWAT report that South West Water has failed to meet its legal obligations and is responsible for illegal sewage spills into the river. The report proposes a £24 million enforcement package. Within hours, South West Water’s CEO, Susan Davy announced her retirement.

Hannah Pearson of Friends of the Dart is hopeful that South West Water will clean up their act, ‘It’s a very big, slow tanker. What is needed is legislative change.’ She cites how in Switzerland, when typhoid was detected in the water the government updated the legal requirements of the treatment works.  ‘It is clear we need to do a similar thing, because the current requirements are are not fit for purpose.’

Caroline Voaden recently revealed to the Totnes Pulse than she became ill after swiming in the river and has now stopped. She previously said: “We know South West Water are aware of the problems.” “I don’t think there is an urgency that’s required to clean it up. I don’t think there is enough investment, there are a lot of excuses. If people were regularly testing the river and publicising the results, I think we would see a change of behavior from South West Water.”

Testing undertaken by Friends of the Dart has regularly shown the presence of E-coli and enterococci from sewage leaks or sewage that is not treated properly. There are also high traces of chemical waste from pharmaceuticals and agricultural products. Founder Hannah Pearson first became aware of a problem when one of her friends posted on Facebook asking if anyone else was becoming sick after swimming in the Dart. The post got 195 responses in 24 hours. Three years later Friends of the Dart has established four designated bathing sites on the Dart, a programme of water quality testing and has introduced a UV filter to kill any harmful microorganisms.

But more work must be done before the river is completely safe to swim. Hannah says the local community is keen to help. Friends of the Dart has been approached by farmers and owners of private septic tanks to try and determine where pollution is coming from. The group has also created a transparency template, so information on spillages is clear and accessible. Hannah is also mentoring other river groups to establish their own water testing programs.