'If we're paying more to improve water quality let's see the detailed plans'
In response to campaigners, South West Water says it now has monitors installed at all storm overflows - which it uses to prioritise investment and operational work - and will keep developing the information it shares
Last updated 15th Apr 2025
After South West Water this month increased bills, campaigners on the River Dart are calling for more transparency in return.
The Friends of The Dart group - which sees volunteers testing the water quality themselves - has now won district council backing as they call for detailed answers to be made available on what’s happening at each site.
Founding director of the Friends of The Dart Hannah Pearson said: "The money that the bill payers are paying essentially should be going to these updates.
There needs to be complete transparency and accountability around what's happening, when it's happening and how much it's going to cost and whether it will actually resolve these pollution incidents."
The group has four main testing sites on the River Dart, looking for things like e coli levels, as well as 'forever chemicals' - with 66 sites expected to be tested by the volunteers this year.
"Because we've been testing very vigorously and really looking into the detail we've been able to home in on problems and identify exactly where the issues are," she said.
"There's a huge change needed in terms of how we relate to natural resources and how we care for them - and our connection to nature generally, how we respect it and look after it- and we need to see that at Government level now."
Ms Pearson says the group hopes its work is no longer needed in five years as they continue to campaign for better river health and protection on the Dart.
There's more about water bills rising here
What has been agreed?
South Hams District Council has voted unanimously to support the Friends of the Dart Transparency Template following a Scrutiny and Overview Committee meeting.Friends Of The Dart(FOD) Directors Nicky Rajska and Hannah Pearson presented key findings and recommendations to improve communication and transparency around South West Water’s (SWW) operations. Senior representatives from SWW were also in attendance. The council also voted to hold a water summit, and to invite chief exec of SWW Susan Davy to attend the next meeting. The Council’s backing comes alongside several encouraging developments, including the designation of four official Bathing Water sites and planned upgrades to 16 infrastructure locations along the River Dart. FOD welcomed the rollout of live sewage alerts but raised concerns about the system’s consistency and the lack of access to past data. Additionally, while SWW has verbally committed to installing a UV filter at Kilbury by the end of 2027, FOD is calling for a formalised timeline and public confirmation. A full video of the South Hams District Council Overview & Scrutiny Meetingcan be seen here
What has South West Water said?
In a statement the water firm said: "Through WaterFit Live we are sharing even more information with our customers because we are passionate about being transparent.
“We have monitors installed at 100% of our storm overflows, enabling us to use the information they provide to prioritise our operational work and investment at those sites that matter most to our customers.
“We will continue to develop WaterFit Live as a platform to share data, listen to our customers and partners, and work together to invest where it is needed most.”
What has the Environment Agency said?
Alan Lovell, Chair of the Environment Agency, said: “The Water (Special Measures) Act was a crucial step in making sure water companies take full responsibility for their impact on the environment.
“The increased regulatory powers introduced by this legislation, including cost recovery for our enforcement work, will allow us to close the justice gap, deliver swifter enforcement action and ultimately deter illegal activity.
“Alongside these reforms, we are undertaking the biggest ever transformation to the way we regulate the water industry. By investing in people, training and digital assets, we are ensuring water companies better meet the needs of both people and the environment, now and in the future.”
The consultation (which will run until May 26), proposes a new levy to raise on certain water discharge activities and is designed to recover costs associated with the Environment Agency’s enforcement work directly from water companies.
"These cost recovery powers are set out under the Water (Special Measures) Act and all activities will be in line with the Environment Agency’s enforcement and sanctions policy."