Residents in Devon Launch Digital Tool to Track Sewage Spills in River Dart

People living near the River Dart in Devon have built an online tool called River Hub to track sewage leaks as they happen. An independent non-profit group named Friends of the Dart created the platform because they believe water companies and regulators fail to share pollution details clearly. Rob Worthington, one of the system designers, stated that the project turns public anger into a way to push for faster fixes.

Platform Details

Users can check the website to see active discharges and monitor dry spills that happen when there is little or no rain. The pages track treatment plant capacity limits, list repair schedules alongside missing improvement plans, and explain how the team gathers weather data. While much of the information comes from public records, some details required formal freedom of information requests.

Local Impact

Local residents shared stories of falling sick after swimming in the waterway. Emma Roberts spent time in a hospital due to an E coli infection, while Olivia Doherty noted that her teenage son suffered stomach problems after a swim. Ben Brierley, who runs local kayak trips, criticized the government deadline allowing sewage releases to continue until 2050 in some areas.

Official Response

South West Water stated that it supports community interest and pointed to its own WaterFit Live platform as a source for overflow data. An Environment Agency spokesperson noted that every storm overflow is now tracked and mentioned a multi-billion pound investment plan to upgrade facilities across England.

Context

Citizen science projects like this one have grown in popularity across Britain as public frustration mounts over the state of natural waterways. These grassroot tools often rely on official data released under public transparency laws to hold utility providers accountable.