Consultation opens on sea outfall plans
BBCA seven-week consultation into an area discharging treated wastewater permanently into the sea has been launched.
The Environment Agency (EA) said South West Water (SWW) had applied to change its environmental permits to permanently use a new outfall about 300m (985ft) south of Straight Point, Exmouth, Devon.
SWW said the outfall would discharge treated wastewater and, during periods of heavy rainfall, it could also disperse settled storm sewage.
The EA said the outfall had been given conditional temporary permission to operate to reduce the risk of pollution to Exmouth Beach and the Exe Estuary but SWW still needed to change its environmental permits to use it permanently.
The agency said SWW needed to show its proposals met environmental standards, complied with EA policy that it and protected people, wildlife and designated sites.
The EA said the permit variations were open for consultation and people could send comments using its website.
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