South West Water has taken over the ownership of a village sewage works at Dunchideock after the private company who owned the workings went into administration.
The water company and the Environment Agency have been working together to protect the Sideling Close sewage treatment works at Dunchideock and secure its future.
Following the administration, the works, which serves 23 houses and discharges treated wastewater to the River Kenn, became the property of The Crown Estate, and without maintenance there would have been a risk of the river becoming polluted. The Environment Agency stepped in and has continued to visit the site, often with the assistance of South West Water to keep it going.
South West Water has now taken on the ownership of the works, and is drawing up a programme to secure its future, which will include its operation and maintenance.
Nigel Thomas-Childs, Environment Officer, said:
"The residents have been very patient but I am pleased to say that our actions and those of South West Water have prevented a pollution incident and have now secured the future of this works."
Nick Murch from South West Water said:
"We already own and operate over 650 sewage treatment works across the region. By adopting the works at Sideling Close we can ensure that it is properly maintained for the benefit of our customers and the local environment."
With the UK government demanding a 50% reduction in storm overflow spills by 2029, the era of reactive management is over. Speaking in the House of Commons on 21 July 2025, then environment secretary Steve Reed said, “This Government will cut water companies’ sewage pollution in half by the end of the decade.”
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