CREDITON Fly Fishing Club says it believes South West Water will be prosecuted after a failure at it's Crediton sewage treatment works resulted in pollution of the River Creedy/Yeo near the works, which caused the death of dozens of fish.

A Club spokesman described the pollution as "terrible" and said "a fair section of river is totally dead".

The incident was highlighted in a recent issue of the Courier, when David Pope, chairman, Crediton Fly Fishing Club said it was a "major incident".

He continued: "I have been taking out dead fish and seen a huge raft of sewage fungi in the area downstream of Codshead Bridge, where water from the treatment works joins the river.

"It has obviously been polluting the river for some time and I have reported it to the Environment Agency.

"It is quite a major incident and it stinks that South West Water are not telling anyone about it.

"I understand the works are closed and that SWW are tankering away the effluent.

"It is a catastrophic failure and it is terrible for this to happen."

Following the incident, SWW said: "We are working with the Environment Agency which is investigating reports of a number of dead fish found in the River Yeo.

"We are currently tankering partially treated effluent away from Lords Meadow Sewage Treatment Works, Crediton, while we improve the performance of a part of the treatment process and to absolutely minimise any discharge to the River Yeo from the site, while these investigations are ongoing.

"We will also continue to support the Environment Agency and interested parties in the catchment area until the situation is resolved."

The spokesperson added: "Hot weather and low river levels are factors that can influence fish mortality.

"To this end South West Water is also working with the Environment Agency in other locations, where possible, to provide water from our reservoirs to boost river levels.

"South West Water has one of the best environmental records in the industry and would like to reassure customers that we take these issues very seriously."

The Courier received many complaints about the stench of the sewage from the works during the period after treatment was stopped at the works.

SWW spokesperson, Joanne Cochrane, said about the smell: "South West Water would like to apologise to any customers in the Crediton area who have experienced odour from our Lords Meadow Sewage Treatment Works.

"We are currently carrying out essential maitenance work on site.

"We have a temporary odour control system on site while we carry out this work, which is expected to be complete in four weeks."

SWW communications officer, Becky Moran, updated the Courier this week, explaining: "We have now completed essential maintenance work on part of the treatment process at Lords Meadow Sewage Treatment Works, Crediton, and stopped using tankers on Thursday, July 1.

"Odour has been minimised and the site is returning to normal operation.

"We apologise for any inconvenience this has caused."

She added: "Planned maintenance work will continue for the next two to three months, but we are confident that this will not have any adverse impact on our customers.

"We are continuing to work with the Environment Agency to monitor the performance of the site."

Mike Dunning, senior press officer with the Environment Agency, told the Courier this week: "I can confirm Crediton Sewage Treatment Works is operating again.

"South West Water was granted permission to resume the discharge of treated effluent from the site last Thursday (July 1).

"Permission was granted by the Environment Agency following close monitoring of the site.

"South West Water tankered away sewage from the treatment works for 12 days while efforts were made to overcome problems at the site.

"The Agency is working with the water company to improve the robustness of the treatment plant and is continuing to investigate the causes of the failure at the site.

"Agency officers will continue to monitor surrounding watercourses."

alan-quick@crediton

couriernewspaper.co.uk