South West Water halved storm overflow spills in North Molton last year after adding new storm water storage to its local wastewater treatment works.
North Molton, a village parish located in North Devon, recorded 202 storm overflow spills across the year in 2023. Thanks to the improvements by South West Water, that number dropped by over 50% in 2024.
The new reinforced concrete storm water storage tank is running alongside the existing storage, providing extra capacity during periods of heavy rainfall.
This allows the treatment works to store more flows during wet weather to relieve pressure on the site and prevent storm overflow spills from happening.
When the rain stops and the flows have reduced, the tank then releases what it has stored back into the system to be treated at the treatment works.
Jay Harris South West Water’s Director of Wastewater Operations, said: “It’s so rewarding to see the number of storm overflow spills at North Molton treatment works dropping so much despite last year being the wettest hydrological year on record.
“Our teams are as passionate about reducing storm overflows as our customers are and, through examples like this one, we are making real progress.”
The improvements are just one example in a wider plan to reduce storm overflows and improve water quality across the region. In 2024 South West Water was one of only five companies in the industry to reduce spills compared to 2023.
South West Water will plan more work in the area as it works to become the first water company to meet the Government’s target of less than 10 spills a year per overflow by 2040 – 10 years ahead of the deadline.
