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 Proposed Programme for the Surface Water Separation Drainage Works
|
Date |
Activity |
|---|---|
| Monday 28 April – Friday 16 May 2025 | Welfare and compound setup. Field opposite Dew Vale Close. |
| Monday 9 June – Tuesday 29 July 2025 | Phase 1 - Third Avenue, Surface water Separation. Temporary traffic lights. |
| Monday 28 July – Wednesday 27 August 2025 | Phase 2a - Recreational Ground, Surface water Separation. No traffic management required. |
| Thursday 28 August – Friday 19 September 2025 | Phase 2b - Third Avenue Lane, Surface water Separation. The works will be carried out under 'give and take' traffic control. |
| September – December 2025 | Phase 3 - Churchill Avenue, Surface water Separation. Temporary traffic lights. |
| Monday 14 July – Wednesday 6 August 2025 | Road closure - Elm Grove Road. |
| Monday 21 July – Friday 29 August 2025 | Road closure - Elm Grove Road. |
Works Programme for the new storage tanks
|
Date |
Activity |
|---|---|
|
Monday 10 March – Friday 9 May 2025 |
The Lawns – Sewer diversion works and enabling works. |
|
Tuesday 22 April – Friday 6 June 2025 |
The Lawns/Piazza - Enabling works, construction of site compound and site welfare. |
|
Monday 9 June – Tuesday 31 March 2026 |
The Lawns – Construction of a new 2200m3 storage tank, associated civil engineering works and mechanical and electrical installation works. |
|
Monday 14 April – Tuesday 31 March 2026 |
Sandy Lane Car Park – Construction of a new 2200m3 storage tank, associated civil engineering works and mechanical and electrical installation works. |
|
Provisional start date July 2025 (Dates TBC) |
Brook Street – Construction of a new 50m3 storage tank, Combined Sewer Outfall and associated mechanical and electrical installation works. |
|
Date TBC – For completion by Tuesday 31 March 2026 |
Viaduct (Crazy Mini Golf) – Construction of a new Wet Well chamber and pump chamber, associated civil engineering works and mechanical and electrical installation works. |
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.