Improving river and sea water quality in Dawlish
How we're investing
Providing you with better water quality
We’re investing to reduce the use of storm overflows in Dawlish, helping to improve water quality in local rivers and the sea.
Storm overflows work like a safety valve on the wastewater system. They are typically used when heavy rain overwhelms the system. We’re committed to reducing reliance on storm overflows, helping to improve water quality in rivers and the sea, especially in bathing waters.
Finding solutions for each area
To address storm overflow use across the region, we need to find tailor-made solutions for each area. In 2025, The Lawns in the centre of Dawlish will be the location of a new underground storage tank.
The storage tanks at The Lawns and Sandy Lane will hold up to 2200m3 (2,200,000 litres) of storm flow at each location. This will mean more wastewater can be stored at times of heavy rainfall then treated, reducing our reliance on storm overflows in Dawlish. We plan to complete the work by May 2026.
Once the work is complete, the investment should result in improved water quality in the sea and rivers around Dawlish.
Traffic management plan for surface water separation works
Programme update - June 2025
|
Date |
Activity |
|---|---|
| Week commencing Tuesday 8 July – Friday 18 July 2025 | Welfare and compound setup. Field opposite Dew Vale Close. |
| Week commencing Monday 14 July – Friday 26 September 2025 | Third Avenue, Surface water separation. Temporary traffic lights. |
| Week commencing Monday 29 September – Friday 18 September 2025 | Recreational Ground, Third Avenue, Surface water separation. No traffic management required. |
| Week commencing Monday 8 September – Friday 14 December 2025 | Churchill Avenue, Surface water separation. Temporary traffic lights. |
| Week commencing Monday 21 July – Monday 22 December 2025 | West Cliff Road/West Cliff Park Drive, Surface water separation under Road Closure/Temporary traffic lights. |
| Week commencing Monday 14 July – Wednesday 6 August 2025 | Road closure - Elm Grove Road. |
| Week commencing Monday 21 July – Friday 29 August 2025 | Road closure - Elm Grove Road. |
Works taking place June to August 2025
Completed work
Challenges in Dawlish
In Dawlish, the wastewater network is under increased pressure due to rapid growth, which means more homes need to use the sewers. Climate change is also bringing heavy rainfall, which adds to the volume in the system.
Most of the town has a system of combined sewers, which means wastewater from toilets and sinks mixes with rainwater that runs off roofs, roads and the land. With increased rain, this results in a higher risk of storm overflows being used.
A new storage tank under the Lawns
Climate change is bringing periods of more heavier rainfall. There are storm tanks to hold this water until it can be treated, but the intensity of rain means they sometimes run out of capacity.
We’re looking into building a new storm tank under the Lawn, which would store wastewater at times of heavy flow.