§ Mr. SteenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many outlets empty raw sewage into the Dart between Totnes and Dartmouth; how many of these outlets treat sewage in any way; and if he will make a statement on the quality of water currently in the Dart.
§ Mr. HowardThere are three major discharges of sewage into the Dart estuary: the Dartmouth combined outfall which discharges macerated sewage, the Coronation park outfall at Dartmouth which discharges crude sewage and the Totnes sewage treatment works which discharges treated sewage. Smaller sewage treatment works at Dittisham, Galmpton and Stoke Gabriel discharge treated sewage. There are another 80 or so very small and intermittent private discharges from houses or farms which discharge crude sewage directly into the estuary.
The most recent river quality survey assessments showed that both the estuary and the river were of the highest quality (class A and class 1A respectively), except for a small stretch between Totnes weir and Riverford bridge which was class 1B. In recent weeks an algae bloom has developed in the estuary which has temporarily reduced the quality. Such blooms are a natural phenomenon in the early summer months.