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← All spills

Lower Ferry pumping station, Kingswear

SBB00712
Overflow on the network feeding Dartmouth STW · Pumping-station / emergency overflow
Designated bathing water · Warfleet Creek, Dart Estuary
Showing history for 2020 · records go back to 2020
Not spilling

The monitor is reporting and shows no discharge.

Last spill ended
29 Sept, 21:39
Counted spills, 2020
69
94 discharge events
Hours spilled, 2020
118
Is the feed working?
Working
Last checked 5 min ago · we poll SWW hourly
48h agonow
48/48 hourly readings received
Dry spills, 2020
6
6 in 2020 · 26 since 2020
How a dry spill is decided →
Spilled before its STW, 2020
94
94 in 2020 · 532 since 2020
What this means →
Why this one spills

This looks like a fault, not a storm.

This overflow has discharged in dry weather 26 times since 2020 — spills with no rainfall to excuse them. Its treatment works is not itself over capacity, so a catchment-wide explanation does not hold. Applied to this record, the two-stage lawfulness test is hard to pass: a recurring dry-weather discharge is not an exceptional circumstance, and where the remedy is routine maintenance the disproportionate-cost exception is hard to run.

How this verdict is reached →

The same works has emergency overflows too

All emergency overflows →

8 pumping-station emergency overflows feed Dartmouth STW works — raw-sewage relief outlets that should fire only when a pump fails. They are not in this page's feed; between them they have discharged about 2,903 recorded hours.

Warfleet No2 pumping station, Dartmouth2,514h totalworst year 2,514h
South Town, Dartmouth225h totalworst year 128h
Warfleet Creek pumping station, Dartmouth88h totalworst year 78h
Darthaven Marina pumping station, Kingswear54h totalworst year 28h
Dartmouth STW20h totalworst year 18h
Coles Court pumping station, Dartmouth1.4h totalworst year 1.4h
Nelson Road pumping station, Dartmouth0.63h totalworst year 0.45h
Mayors Avenue pumping station, Dartmouth0.28h totalworst year 0.20h

Its permit

What the environmental permit sets for this overflow — and where the public record is silent, which is itself the finding.

Pass-forward flow
Not published
Spill frequency limit
None set
Monitoring tier
Not published
Assessment trigger
Crossed — over 10 spills/year

Is anyone acting on this?

Flagged problems
High spill frequency532 discharge events since 2020Dry spilling26 dry spills since 2020Spills before its works532 times since 2020
Measures on record
  • Reduction of spills to meet EnvAct_IMP drivers
    Improvementdue 2030
Verdict
Improvement under way

A physical improvement is committed against this overflow.

What you can do about this one

OPEN NOW

Ask for the data

Under the Environmental Information Regulations, Lower Ferry pumping station, Kingswear's telemetry, the works' flow-to-full-treatment setting, and any spill investigations are emissions information — they cannot be withheld on commercial-confidentiality grounds. A written request is the fastest lever.

BY 30 APR 2027

Get it into the next programme

Investigations that will shape the 2030–35 environment programme must complete by this date. Putting this overflow on the record now — to South West Water and the Environment Agency — is what gets it considered.

BY 1 NOV 2027

Put it in the drainage plan

South West Water's draft Drainage & Wastewater Management Plan goes to a twelve-week consultation. A named overflow with evidence behind it is far harder to leave out.

The record since 2020

26 dry spills and 532 pre-STW spills since 2020. Pick a year to see its events below.

Count by

2020: 69 spills · 94 discharge events

692020712021702022422023522024442025132026

Counted spills — the EA's 12/24-hour block method, the basis of the 10-a-year cap. Published annual return where available, computed the same way for the current year. Two ways to count →

Dry spills, every year

26 dry spills since 2020 · showing up to 12

9 Dec, 07:05
2h 3m
0.0
Not spilling
→
11 Sept, 19:23
1h 16m
0.0
Not spilling
→
14 Aug, 21:15
1h 46m
0.1
Not spilling
→
14 Aug, 19:52
26m
0.1
Not spilling
→
13 Aug, 20:27
1h 52m
0.0
Not spilling
→
13 Aug, 19:17
26m
0.0
Not spilling
→
12 Aug, 19:40
30m
0.0
Not spilling
→
21 Apr, 10:15
6h 10m
0.0
Not spilling
→
18 Apr, 19:59
2h 0m
0.0
Not spilling
→
2 Apr, 20:30
1h 53m
0.0
Not spilling
→
2 Apr, 08:09
5h 0m
0.0
Not spilling
→
1 Apr, 19:28
23m
0.0
Not spilling
→

Spilled before its works

532 events since 2020 · started while Dartmouth STW stayed shut

29 Sept, 20:11
1h 29m
8.5
Stayed shut
→
29 Aug, 04:56
1h 15m
19.0
Stayed shut
→
1 Jun, 22:42
16m
26.4
Stayed shut
→
27 Feb, 00:19
1h 11m
22.1
Stayed shut
→
18 Feb, 11:29
42m
21.0
Stayed shut
→
6 Feb, 08:55
24m
19.0
Stayed shut
→
5 Feb, 08:27
26m
19.0
Stayed shut
→
5 Feb, 07:56
18m
19.0
Stayed shut
→
26 Jan, 19:34
4h 2m
42.4
Stayed shut
→
24 Jan, 09:34
1h 48m
19.7
Stayed shut
→
23 Jan, 21:24
1h 51m
11.1
Stayed shut
→
21 Jan, 09:08
1h 6m
20.9
Stayed shut
→

Spills by month, 2020

Dry Wet weather
11Jan
13Feb
6Mar
1Apr
May
Jun
1Jul
13Aug
8Sep
18Oct
6Nov
17Dec

Every spill in 2020, most recent first

Each event checked against the nearest rain gauge and against the treatment works’ own overflow. Open any row for its evidence dossier.

27 Dec, 04:11
1h 48m
24.7 mm
Wet weather
Not spilling — flagged before STW
→
27 Dec, 01:09
2h 4m
24.7 mm
Wet weather
Not spilling — flagged before STW
→
23 Dec, 17:05
43m
16.7 mm
Wet weather
Not spilling — flagged before STW
→
23 Dec, 13:50
2h 53m
16.7 mm
Wet weather
Not spilling — flagged before STW
→
21 Dec, 17:29
17m
15.4 mm
Wet weather
Not spilling — flagged before STW
→
21 Dec, 01:12
1h 24m
15.4 mm
Wet weather
Not spilling — flagged before STW
→
19 Dec, 01:15
33m
13.1 mm
Wet weather
Not spilling — flagged before STW
→
18 Dec, 08:57
52m
14.8 mm
Wet weather
Not spilling — flagged before STW
→
18 Dec, 07:25
25m
14.8 mm
Wet weather
Not spilling — flagged before STW
→
16 Dec, 08:50
1h 7m
9.0 mm
Wet weather
Not spilling — flagged before STW
→
16 Dec, 06:32
18m
9.0 mm
Wet weather
Not spilling — flagged before STW
→
15 Dec, 06:54
32m
9.0 mm
Wet weather
Not spilling — flagged before STW
→
14 Dec, 00:14
31m
15.2 mm
Wet weather
Not spilling — flagged before STW
→
13 Dec, 17:28
22m
15.2 mm
Wet weather
Not spilling — flagged before STW
→
13 Dec, 14:46
1h 41m
15.2 mm
Wet weather
Not spilling — flagged before STW
→
10 Dec, 22:30
17m
20.0 mm
Wet weather
Not spilling — flagged before STW
→
9 Dec, 20:57
2h 56m
20.0 mm
Wet weather
Not spilling — flagged before STW
→
15 Nov, 19:42
52m
18.5 mm
Wet weather
Not spilling — flagged before STW
→
14 Nov, 18:44
47m
18.5 mm
Wet weather
Not spilling — flagged before STW
→
14 Nov, 17:06
23m
18.5 mm
Wet weather
Not spilling — flagged before STW
→
14 Nov, 14:46
1h 2m
18.5 mm
Wet weather
Not spilling — flagged before STW
→
14 Nov, 11:52
23m
18.5 mm
Wet weather
Not spilling — flagged before STW
→
14 Nov, 06:35
20m
18.5 mm
Wet weather
Not spilling — flagged before STW
→
31 Oct, 09:58
38m
21.4 mm
Wet weather
Not spilling — flagged before STW
→
31 Oct, 09:14
38m
21.4 mm
Wet weather
Not spilling — flagged before STW
→
31 Oct, 08:32
22m
21.4 mm
Wet weather
Not spilling — flagged before STW
→
31 Oct, 07:31
53m
21.4 mm
Wet weather
Not spilling — flagged before STW
→
27 Oct, 06:52
1h 59m
13.8 mm
Wet weather
Not spilling — flagged before STW
→
23 Oct, 05:40
28m
8.2 mm
Wet weather
Not spilling — flagged before STW
→
22 Oct, 09:31
47m
8.2 mm
Wet weather
Not spilling — flagged before STW
→
21 Oct, 08:01
1h 6m
11.8 mm
Wet weather
Not spilling — flagged before STW
→
21 Oct, 05:45
1h 6m
11.8 mm
Wet weather
Not spilling — flagged before STW
→
20 Oct, 08:40
1h 28m
11.8 mm
Wet weather
Not spilling — flagged before STW
→
19 Oct, 21:37
49m
4.5 mm
Wet weather
Not spilling — flagged before STW
→
19 Oct, 19:53
22m
4.5 mm
Wet weather
Not spilling — flagged before STW
→
18 Oct, 19:50
58m
0.2 mm
Dry spill
Not spilling — flagged before STW
→
17 Oct, 18:48
1h 41m
0.2 mm
Dry spill
Not spilling — flagged before STW
→
2 Oct, 18:26
34m
29.5 mm
Wet weather
Not spilling — flagged before STW
→
2 Oct, 09:51
59m
29.5 mm
Wet weather
Not spilling — flagged before STW
→
2 Oct, 02:07
4h 51m
29.5 mm
Wet weather
Not spilling — flagged before STW
→
2 Oct, 01:38
16m
29.5 mm
Wet weather
Not spilling — flagged before STW
→
30 Sept, 15:14
26m
26.4 mm
Wet weather
Not spilling — flagged before STW
→
30 Sept, 14:14
21m
26.4 mm
Wet weather
Not spilling — flagged before STW
→
30 Sept, 12:18
21m
26.4 mm
Wet weather
Not spilling — flagged before STW
→
30 Sept, 11:14
50m
26.4 mm
Wet weather
Not spilling — flagged before STW
→
24 Sept, 02:48
18m
7.2 mm
Wet weather
Not spilling — flagged before STW
→
24 Sept, 01:37
18m
7.2 mm
Wet weather
Not spilling — flagged before STW
→
19 Sept, 19:40
2h 5m
0.0 mm
Dry spill
Not spilling — flagged before STW
→
18 Sept, 19:16
1h 20m
0.0 mm
Dry spill
Not spilling — flagged before STW
→
28 Aug, 14:42
17m
18.0 mm
Wet weather
Not spilling — flagged before STW
→
27 Aug, 13:51
22m
18.0 mm
Wet weather
Not spilling — flagged before STW
→
25 Aug, 02:36
1h 36m
31.5 mm
Wet weather
Not spilling — flagged before STW
→
24 Aug, 22:40
1h 44m
31.5 mm
Wet weather
Not spilling — flagged before STW
→
21 Aug, 19:50
1h 46m
1.5 mm
Wet weather
Not spilling — flagged before STW
→
21 Aug, 07:53
1h 45m
1.5 mm
Wet weather
Not spilling — flagged before STW
→
20 Aug, 20:51
25m
4.3 mm
Wet weather
Not spilling — flagged before STW
→
20 Aug, 19:13
25m
4.3 mm
Wet weather
Not spilling — flagged before STW
→
19 Aug, 18:53
1h 28m
31.7 mm
Wet weather
Not spilling — flagged before STW
→
19 Aug, 06:23
1h 48m
31.7 mm
Wet weather
Not spilling — flagged before STW
→
19 Aug, 02:31
59m
31.7 mm
Wet weather
Not spilling — flagged before STW
→
14 Aug, 04:54
36m
30.9 mm
Wet weather
Not spilling — flagged before STW
→
13 Aug, 23:49
2h 0m
30.9 mm
Wet weather
Not spilling — flagged before STW
→
25 Jul, 11:13
52m
9.5 mm
Wet weather
Not spilling — flagged before STW
→
9 Apr, 07:49
19m
0.0 mm
Dry spill
Not spilling — flagged before STW
→
12 Mar, 09:34
53m
1.1 mm
Wet weather
Not spilling — flagged before STW
→
12 Mar, 08:18
37m
1.1 mm
Wet weather
Not spilling — flagged before STW
→
11 Mar, 20:13
1h 20m
1.1 mm
Wet weather
Not spilling — flagged before STW
→
11 Mar, 08:59
1h 5m
1.1 mm
Wet weather
Not spilling — flagged before STW
→
11 Mar, 07:03
18m
1.1 mm
Wet weather
Not spilling — flagged before STW
→
5 Mar, 05:33
3h 42m
27.3 mm
Wet weather
Not spilling — flagged before STW
→
29 Feb, 03:14
45m
21.8 mm
Wet weather
Not spilling — flagged before STW
→
28 Feb, 08:13
1h 35m
21.8 mm
Wet weather
Not spilling — flagged before STW
→
18 Feb, 16:52
32m
8.6 mm
Wet weather
Not spilling — flagged before STW
→
16 Feb, 11:54
1h 42m
44.4 mm
Wet weather
Not spilling — flagged before STW
→
15 Feb, 14:10
1h 7m
44.4 mm
Wet weather
Not spilling — flagged before STW
→
14 Feb, 21:17
2h 15m
20.8 mm
Wet weather
Not spilling — flagged before STW
→
13 Feb, 10:55
1h 2m
19.8 mm
Wet weather
Not spilling — flagged before STW
→
13 Feb, 08:45
20m
19.8 mm
Wet weather
Not spilling — flagged before STW
→
13 Feb, 02:23
1h 9m
19.8 mm
Wet weather
Not spilling — flagged before STW
→
9 Feb, 06:37
1h 13m
11.4 mm
Wet weather
Not spilling — flagged before STW
→

Showing the last 80 events of 94 in 2020.

31 brief spills under 15 minutes in 2020

Excluded from the counts, classification and flags above — too short to weigh against rainfall, and often an operational blip rather than a genuine discharge. Listed here for completeness. How we know.

27 Dec, 03:42 · 8m27 Dec, 03:22 · 4m23 Dec, 21:02 · 12m18 Dec, 08:28 · 2m13 Dec, 17:54 · 3m10 Dec, 22:51 · 1m15 Nov, 18:34 · 2m14 Nov, 17:32 · 3m14 Nov, 06:56 · 2m3 Nov, 01:13 · 11m30 Oct, 20:38 · 7m28 Oct, 13:44 · 12m24 Oct, 20:13 · 11m19 Oct, 20:34 · 3m19 Oct, 20:19 · 2m2 Oct, 18:17 · 1m2 Oct, 17:39 · 6m2 Oct, 12:00 · 10m30 Sept, 14:53 · 10m30 Sept, 13:28 · 14m24 Sept, 17:50 · 12m28 Aug, 17:47 · 5m27 Aug, 13:21 · 6m25 Aug, 06:10 · 1m25 Aug, 05:39 · 10m21 Aug, 19:05 · 9m18 Aug, 07:39 · 4m14 Aug, 05:44 · 9m12 Jun, 13:05 · 10m12 Mar, 08:56 · 1m9 Jan, 12:17 · 9m