Devon and Cornwall rivers hit record lows amid drought and sewage concerns

Rivers in Devon and Cornwall have reached exceptionally low levels due to a prolonged drought, with the Environment Agency reporting the driest July since records began in 1871. Low water levels in rivers such as the Exe, Avon, and Fowey are impacting wildlife, including Atlantic salmon struggling to migrate, and causing concerns regarding high water temperatures, lower oxygen levels, and concentrated pollution.

Despite the drought conditions, sewage discharges have been recorded in Cornwall. South West Water’s monitoring shows that the Town Quay pumping station overflow in Fowey released sewage into the River Fowey estuary near popular bathing spots on August 15 and 16. Water safety campaigners, including Surfers Against Sewage, have criticized these discharges, stating it is unacceptable to release sewage into coastal beauty spots during an official drought.

The environmental impact is described as a “triple whammy” for nature, affecting the entire river ecosystem from invertebrates to fish. Experts suggest these extreme weather patterns are a sign of the impacts of climate change.