Is the water safe? New system aims to give real answers

Four Devon rivers shortlisted for new water monitoring scheme backed by government funding

River Dart below Totnes Image Guy Henderson LDRS.jpeg

Reporter:

Guy Henderson

12 Jul 2025 8:00 AM

A Devon council is pioneering a project to bring clarity to the murky waters around pollution and waste.

South Hams Council decided it was not satisfied with the way information on the quality of local bathing waters was collected and shared by other agencies.

So it decided to launch its own pilot project to collect vital information and share it with the public.

Sensors could be placed in local waters next month, with a full launch of the service in November.

The project could cost more than £80,000, funded by the government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Four high-tech sensors made by Totnes-based company Valeport will be placed in locations chosen from a shortlist including the rivers Erme, Avon, Dart and Yealm as well as the Kingsbridge Estuary at Salcombe.

All are popular with swimmers and kayakers.

The project will be assessed by members of the council’s executive committee next week (July 17). A report says: “As an area with a thriving marine economy, active water recreation and visitor economy, water quality is a key issue.

“The project was launched in response to the council’s commitment to provide greater transparency of information about water quality.”

It says the district’s rivers and estuaries face challenges including sewage pollution, chemical discharges from industry, agricultural run-off and urban waste.

South Hams relies on a good standard of water quality to drive its local tourism economy, it says, adding: “Currently, information on water quality status lacks transparency, timeliness and accessibility. In some cases, data is not made available in the public domain.”

Local community groups have welcomed the pilot scheme, which is a partnership with the University of Plymouth.

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