The story so far...

A bit of background on the situation…
As I’m sure everyone is aware, there is a pipeline which runs along Rocky Beach in Trevone and out to sea. It was intended to be used as a measure of last resort to discharge untreated sewage, in the unlikely event of a power cut or some other very short term reason the pumping station (which transports the sewage to a treatment centre) could not cope. But it has been used frequently over the last 5+ years to discharge untreated sewage at Rocky Beach in Trevone.


2008 – An Overflow Pipeline in Disrepair…

From at least as early as 2008, the pipeline was full of holes and blocked so that it was impossible for it to convey overflows to the legally permitted location at the far North-West edge of Rocky Beach, so discharges took place via various holes along its length, and mainly from a location right at the pedestrian access slipway onto the beach. All of these discharges were illegal, being at unconsented locations.

In October 2010, as part of a general improvement programme required nationwide by the Environment Agency, South West Water installed monitoring and data telemetry equipment that enabled them to tell immediately if a spill was taking place. The data showed that there were discharges on 10 days from October to December 2010; 35 days in 2011; 49 days in 2012; 13 days in 2013; 41 days in 2014; then 11 days in a row during January 2015.
 
How frequently the Overflow Pipeline has been used to discharge RAW UNTREATED SEWAGE…

In 2015, shortly after a period of more illegal sewage discharges (see image above) South West Water did two things at about the same time in February/March 2015, which seem contradictory:

1. Firstly, after refusing for the last 3 years to mend the pipeline over its full length (as the Environment Agency had required them to do back in 2011), they suddenly mended it, so that it is now compliant with the existing permit, discharging when there is an overflow at the North West edge of the rock shelf:

2. Secondly, at the same time, having made the pipeline fully operational over its entire length, they applied to the Environment Agency for permission to shorten it by about 80 metres, so that it would discharge onto the rock shelf in amongst the rock pools - SO, SOUTH WEST WATER HAVE APPLIED TO MAKE IT LEGAL TO DISCHARGE ONTO THE ROCK SHELF ITSELF, TO A LOCATION THAT IS FULLY EXPOSED AND ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC AROUND LOW TIDE.

How to oppose the application…
Send your comments and letters of opposition to psc-waterquality@environment-agency.gov.uk by email, or by post to: Permitting Support Centre WQ Team, Quadrant 2, 99 Parkway Business Park, Sheffield S9 4WF, quoting the Application Reference 300014/V001.

Rips and currents, and what will happen if they cut off the pipeline on the beach…

The natural sea currents that flow around Trevone are likely to effect the movements of sewage when it is discharged. The sea currents (rips) at Trevone sweep northwards through the inshore waters of Rocky beach and then out along the Madrips. So the flow of sewage, when it is discharged, will be pushed across Trevone Beach. This is probably the reason the original outfall was sited out beyond the spring low water level (and beyond the surf zone of the island).

If the discharge is taking place simply beyond the seaward edge of the slipway it will be onto the sand where all the children play, and where people walk their dogs along the rocks and go rock pooling. So the issue isn’t just bathing but more crucially wading, rock pooling, walking bare feet anywhere on rocky beach and sandy beach from mid to low tides.

Discharges of untreated sewage shouldn’t be happening, but because of where the pipe is cut off at the moment, when they do they’re even more dangerous to everyone that plays, surfs, swims, rock pools, walks etc in the Trevone area… and if Southwest Water are allowed to cut off the pipeline even further up the beach, when discharges occur again (and they will), the effects will be even more disastrous!!! Current proposals are not adequate.

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Summary of first public consultation meeting with Southwest Water, the Environment Agency and Dan Rogerson…

For an hour or so, Southwest water discussed their proposals to fix the sewerage system in Trevone with members of the local community… in our opinion they do not go anywhere near far enough towards fixing the problem.

Their plans involve:

 1. Diverting all of the surface/ ground water inlets that feed into the pumping station in Trevone (although no time frame has been set out).

We agree that the surface/ groundwater inlets should be diverted, and that it should be done sooner rather than later!

2. Cutting off the overflow pipeline (before the consented outlet) so that any discharges occur onto Rocky Beach….

We completely disagree with the pipeline being cut off, any discharges that occur will take place on Rocky Beach, which is used by families, dog walkers, surfers, rock poolers etc…

3. Reduce the occurrence of illegal discharges through the overflow pipe on Rocky beach to 1 in 1 years.

We do not think that they can guarantee a 1 in 1 year discharge rate… previously they had promised a 1 in 5 year discharge compliance. All current predictions are based on computer models… there is no hard data to back these assertions up!

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