South West Water has completed targeted improvements to the wastewater network in Croyde as part of its ongoing work to reduce storm overflows and strengthen the system in the area.
Croyde Sewage Treatment Works is one of South West Water’s higher spilling sites, and the company has carried out various investigations and improvements at the treatment works and across the catchment to help deliver projects that will reduce storm overflow activity in the area.
Croyde is a coastal, low-lying area with permeable soils, meaning groundwater levels can rise quickly following periods of heavy rainfall.
The investigations revealed that groundwater was entering the sewer network through joints in pipes and manholes.
Known as groundwater infiltration, this happens when water that exists underground in cracks and spaces in soil, sand and rock enters the sewers.
This additional water was then flowing through the network to the treatment works, increasing the overall volume beyond what the system was designed to handle during wet weather.
To address this issue, engineers carried out CCTV surveys to identify sections of pipe affected by this infiltration.
They then cleaned the affected areas thoroughly and installed a protective lining to 1.6 kilometres of sewer in the area and carried out repairs across the local network, including sealing 55 manholes.
When fitted, this special lining is cured inside the sewer to create a watertight seal so no groundwater or surface water can enter the network.
Follow-up CCTV inspections were undertaken to confirm the lining had set correctly and that no further infiltration was occurring.
These measures have reduced the amount of groundwater entering the wastewater network during wet weather, helping to ease pressure on the system.
The works in Croyde, completed in October 2024, formed part of South West Water’s £16 million Infiltration Reduction Programme, which targeted 175 high-risk sites after reviewing performance across more than 1,600 storm overflows.
Hazel Tranchant, Head of Asset Management at South West Water, said: “Croyde is an area where we see the impact of heavy rainfall on the wastewater network. This project focused on reducing the amount of groundwater entering the system, which can put additional pressure on the network during wet weather. We have also been making improvements to fix controls that have caused short duration spills to Baggy Point.
“The work we’ve completed is an important step in strengthening the local infrastructure, and we continue to invest in further improvements to help reduce storm overflow activity in the future.”
South West Water continues to invest in Croyde to build on these improvements and further strengthen the network.
A further £4 million has been allocated to two new projects, which are currently in the design process, aimed at reducing pressure on the network and helping to reduce the use of storm overflows in the future.
This wider programme of improvements will be delivered in phases over the coming years, with completion currently scheduled for 2030.