£2m sewer work finally complete after pipe bursts

SOUTH West Water has completed work to replace an 800-metre section of sewer in Exmouth after more than three months of issues following burst pipes.

Problems first hit residents in the town in December 2023, with four bursts reported since. Sewage had to be transported in tankers while repairs were carried out.

Now the utility firm says around £2 million has been spent to replace the stretch of pipe which runs from Plumb Park housing estate to Maer Lane.

It added that, to ensure the full length of sewer was in the best possible condition, it also relined the sewer from Maer Lane into the sewage treatment works by creating a new pipe within the existing one. The new lining will be as strong and offer as much resilience as a replacement pipe would, a spokesperson for the Exeter-based company said, without the added time and disruption a new pipe would have taken to lay.

Chief operating officer John Halsall said: “This has been a huge challenge and once again I’d like to reiterate how sorry we are for the disruption it has caused residents and landowners.

“We’re really pleased to have completed this work to stop issues like this from happening again, and I would like to thank all of our operational teams and supply partners who have worked so hard on this project in extremely difficult weather conditions.”

In order to fit the new section of sewer, a 1.5km temporary overland pipe was installed to divert wastewater flows around the damaged section of pipe. The pipe and associated equipment is now being removed.

The sewer replacement is one of a series of measures the company is carrying out as it seeks to improve its network in Exmouth.

Other work includes upgrades at Maer Road Pumping Station, and expanding the capacity of Maer Lane Treatment Works.