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18/08/2009, 7:49 AM lizzlejay Joined on 18/08/2009 exmouth Posts 4 The Exmouth Sewage smell I am surprised that no one has commented on the awful smell that eminates from the Estuary in August, every year, when the locality has more than enough extra bodies to cater for. The sewage system just cannot cope at this time of year and the estuary then becomes an 'open sewer', yet no-one seems to complain. The residents in New Street seem to think it comes from their locality, but you only need to walk along the 'new cycle path' to see that it is more widespread than that. Wake up Exmouth and complain or you'll be stuck with this problem for years to come.    Report

18/08/2009, 11:02 AM Mike Fairclough Joined on 18/04/2008 Posts 112 Re: The Exmouth Sewage smell I think the problem here is not sewage based, but the natural decomposition of the estuary seaweeds in August each  year .... at least that's what I've always been led to believe.    Report

20/08/2009, 9:29 PM Alice Joined on 12/02/2009 Posts 48 Re: The Exmouth Sewage smell Yes, Mike, thats what I've always thought too! I hope we are not wrong or I will feel rather ill at the thought of all the times I've breathed in that 'fresh estuary air' !!    Report

27/08/2009, 5:24 PM tiredpaws Joined on 26/04/2009 Posts 18 Re: The Exmouth Sewage smell It's definately the seaweed rotting that gives the smell as well as the bronw plankton scum you get left after high tides. Sandy Bay has a similar problem    Report

07/09/2009, 9:18 PM lizzlejay Joined on 18/08/2009 exmouth Posts 4 Re: The Exmouth Sewage smell Having seen tonight's "Panorama" 7 September 2009 do you still think the smell is 'natural decomposition of seaweed".? If you do then you can be 'led to believe anything'. I for one still think it is SEWAGE.    Report

08/09/2009, 1:13 PM Alice Joined on 12/02/2009 Posts 48 Re: The Exmouth Sewage smell I must admit, after watching panorama I am questioning just how clean our beach is! I see on the interactive map on the panorama website that we have a combined sewer overfow pipe (CSO)  in Exmouth. I would love to know its exact location. I thought the man from south west water was pathetic with his denial that the sewerage on a cornish beach was coming from the CSO despite the obvious evidence that it was. If anyone didn't see this program I recommend trying to see it on bbc i player, it was very interesting!    Report

08/09/2009, 1:22 PM Alice Joined on 12/02/2009 Posts 48 Re: The Exmouth Sewage smell Just found this on south west water website, from back in 2002; The sewerage system in Exmouth is currently undergoing comprehensive improvement work to ensure sewer flooding is an event of the past. South West Water are installing a storm water storage tank in North Exmouth at a cost of £350,000 which is planned to be operational by February 2003. The sewerage project is essential to safeguard the area from sewer flooding which can occur when sewers become overloaded in times of heavy rainfall. The area has combined sewers which carry both waste and surface water. In storm conditions when the sewers reach capacity excess water will be stored in the underground tank. This is specially designed to ensure the correct volume of water is passed through the network. The stored flows will be transferred for treatment after the storm has passed. The tank will be installed on Bapton Lane and have the capacity to store hundreds of gallons of storm water in two pipes both nearly 2 metres in diameter. This sewer carries waste water from North Exmouth to Phear Park pumping station then onto the sewage works for treatment. Sounds like our sewer system has been designed for times of high rain fall after all!    Report

09/09/2009, 9:00 AM lizzlejay Joined on 18/08/2009 exmouth Posts 4 Re: The Exmouth Sewage smell Thank you for your comments Alice. I was beginning to think I am the only one showing any concern about the 'smell'. Just one other point.   Have you noticed the distinct lack of the smell over the last couple of days.  The weed must have stopped decomposing, or perhaps it's because most of the extra holiday people have gone home. End of school holidays.!!!!    Report

09/09/2009, 9:53 AM Mike Fairclough Joined on 18/04/2008 Posts 112 Re: The Exmouth Sewage smell Having seen tonight's "Panorama" 7 September 2009 do you still think the smell is 'natural decomposition of seaweed".? If you do then you can be 'led to believe anything'. I for one still think it is SEWAGE. You're entitled to your opinion sceptic, just know that you're wrong! If the storm drain theory were correct here, it would stink year round, not just in August...    Report

09/09/2009, 10:06 AM Alice Joined on 12/02/2009 Posts 48 Re: The Exmouth Sewage smell I wonder if there is a way to find out for definite what the smell is, lizzlejay? Would be good to know! I also hadn't realised until now that water quality at Exmouth beach got the classification 'Fail (swimming not advised)' on the 2009 good beach guide. Exmouth beach is also named on a list of  'Britains dirtiest beaches' on a travel website. The poor water quality is being blamed on heavy rain and land run off  prior to testing, so I guess it is hard to tell if it is a true representation of normal conditions. It was clssified (by the environment agency) as 'excellent' in 2006 and 2007 so maybe the test was just conducted at an unfortunate time! I love Exmouth beach, I spend a lot of time there with my daughter and seeing these types of reports about it makes me sad! :(    Report

11/09/2009, 9:55 PM lizzlejay Joined on 18/08/2009 exmouth Posts 4 Re: The Exmouth Sewage smell Hi Alice.  I like Exmouth Beach as well, but would not at present time go into the water to swim. I live within a stone's throw of the estuary and for the last 3 days have been able to look down the road and see acres of green weed when the tide is out, and guess what, there's no smell even though the sun has been out and the temperature quite high in the 70's. Common sense tells me that the smell cannot eminate from the weed or it would still be around.    I don't think we would be able to find out what causes it, because I don't have much faith in the Environment Agency.   They are a government organisation and don't want to cause 'waves'  so you might just as well ask South West Water to investigate it!! It would be interesting to hear from any wind surfers who regularly use the 'duck pond' area opposite the King George playing field whether they have been suffering from stomach problems after their surfing trips in that area.       Lets hope that our "scribblings"  cause people to really think  about what's really going on here.!!!    Report

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