Storm drains/CSO

Mentesimples

Hi everyone,

In the process of buying our first house. We are buying a new build in Devon are currently receiving the results of several searches.

One of the results we are a bit worried and confused about was the environmental search: the reports points out 6 storm drains/combined sewer overflow drains about 250m away from our property, discharging into a freshwater stream that runs about 30m from the house.

It got me a bit worried that it may cause issues such as bad smells from raw sewage, or potentially affect our cat if she drinks water from the stream. I know these will only discharge in extreme rainfall situations, but we do get flood alerts a few times a year, so enough to get me a bit worried.

Just wanted to probe the community and see if anyone has had any problems with this sort of thing, google is not giving me much help!

Thanks in advance!

AdrianC

You're massively over-worrying. They really aren't going to put anything into a stream that shouldn't be there. They'd have the Environment Agency on 'em like several ton of bricks at the faintest hint of a rogue floater.

diggingdude

agreed, stream life probably has more protection than your cat

davidmcn

Have you looked at the reports submitted with the planning application? They'll include stuff about drainage and flooding.

Davesnave

I live in Devon. I can't speak for other places, but I know the landowners and holders of riparian rights immediately downstream of our sewerage works and we've spoken about its operation. Both agree that, in extreme conditions, the system is overwhelmed and some raw sewage is released into the river.

The trout seem to be OK though. Even as a child, I realised that the fish immediately downstream of the sewerage works were, on average, larger!

Our town's system is long overdue an overhaul. One would expect more modern facilities to cope much better, as rivers are closely monitored by the Environment Agency and other bodies. Despite the antiquated works we have, kingfishers and dippers are regularly seen there, which wouldn't be the case if the water was of very poor quality.

I think your cat will be safe.

AdrianC

Davesnave wrote: »

I live in Devon. I can't speak for other places, but I know the landowners and holders of riparian rights immediately downstream of our sewerage works and we've spoken about its operation. Both agree that, in extreme conditions, the system is overwhelmed and some raw sewage is released into the river.

The trout seem to be OK though. Even as a child, I realised that the fish immediately downstream of the sewerage works were, on average, larger!

A few years ago, we were on the waterfront in Lisbon, by the Belem tower. As we looked over into the water, we realised it was positively boiling with large fish.

It took a few moments to realise that there was an outflow pipe there...