Consultation now open
Permit Numbers: 003174/FU/02, 201965, 200124 and 200126
Clean and healthy coastal waters matter to the people, wildlife and businesses that depend on them. We are now consulting on applications from South West Water Limited (SWW) to change its environmental permits for a new long sea outfall near Exmouth.
SWW has invested in improvements to its wastewater treatment system in Exmouth. One of the important changes is a new long sea outfall, around 300 metres south of Straight Point.
The new outfall moves treated wastewater, and storm sewage during periods of heavy rainfall, further offshore rather than into Exmouth Bay. We know this change alone is not enough. SWW will still need to meet their obligations as set out in the Water Industry National Environment Programme (WINEP). But this is a positive step. It should reduce how often storm overflows affect Exmouth Beach bathing water and help improve water quality in the area.
Reducing the risk of pollution in Exmouth Bay
On 15 July, we issued SWW with a Local Enforcement Position (LEP). If SWW meets the conditions of the LEP, it can begin using the new outfall. We will not normally take enforcement action for operating outside its environmental permits while those conditions are met. This change should help reduce the risk of pollution reaching Exmouth Bay sooner rather than later. You can read more in our article further down on this page.
To make this arrangement permanent, SWW must obtain changes to its environmental permits. On Tuesday 4 August, a public consultation is open on those applications.
What is an environmental permit?
An environmental permit sets legally binding conditions that an operator must meet.
The environmental permits would set out how SWW must manage discharges from Exmouth Wastewater Treatment Works and other parts of its network. They would also set requirements for monitoring, reporting and demonstrating compliance.
SWW must show that its proposals meet environmental standards, comply with Environment Agency policy, and protect people, wildlife and designated sites, including shellfish waters, bathing waters and conservation areas. Its applications explain how it will manage and reduce environmental risks.
Before we make a decision, we must be satisfied that these measures are robust, proportionate and capable of protecting the environment.
How do we assess permit applications?
Our job is to make sure permit applications meet the requirements of environmental law and protect the environment and human health.
We will assess how the proposed discharges could affect the environment and protected waters, including Exmouth, Sandy Bay and Budleigh Salterton bathing waters, and Sandy Bay and Lyme Bay shellfish waters.
The discharge would consist of secondary treated sewage effluent, disinfected using ultraviolet (UV) treatment at Exmouth Wastewater Treatment Works. During periods of heavy rainfall, it may also include settled storm effluent.
We use technical evidence to assess whether the proposal meets environmental standards and legal requirements. This includes considering its potential impact on people, wildlife and protected waters.
Where appropriate, we also seek advice from other organisations to help inform our assessment.
What should you include in your consultation response?
Please focus your response on the changes SWW has applied to make to its water discharge permits, and the potential effects on water quality and nearby protected sites.
We can only consider comments that relate to these proposed permit changes.
We cannot take account of comments about:
- wider infrastructure changes proposed by SWW in Exmouth
- matters that fall within the Local Authority's planning responsibilities
- parts of the permits that SWW has not applied to change
Keeping responses focused on the proposed permit changes will help us assess the application fairly and make decisions based on the relevant environmental evidence.
What happens next?
The consultation will close on 22 September at 11:59pm.
We’re working with Exmouth Town Council to hold a public engagement event in early September, held at the Town Hall. This will be an opportunity to speak with us directly, ask questions about the consultation and get support if you need help taking part. We'll tell you more about this event soon.
When the consultation closes, we will review every comment we receive alongside the technical evidence submitted with the application.
Our permitting officers and specialist advisers will then assess the application and reach a draft decision.
If we decide to refuse the application, SWW will have the right to appeal.
If we are minded to issue the permit variations, we will hold a further consultation on our draft variations and draft decision documents. This will give you an opportunity to comment on the proposed permit conditions and see how we have considered the feedback received during this consultation.
We will keep interested parties informed as the process progresses. We will also consult again if any of the application documents change significantly.
How can you take part?
You can comment on these permit variation applications from 4 August 2026.
The application documents will be available to read through our consultation portal, Citizen Space, once it opens:
We can only consider issues that relate to the environmental permit variations and our regulatory responsibilities. Our decision must be based on technical evidence, and we are bound by the Regulator's Code.
Consultation deadline
We must receive your comments by 11:59pm on 22 September 2026.
You can respond through Citizen Space or contact us using the details below.
Email: pscpublicresponse@environment-agency.gov.uk
Post: Environment Agency Permitting and Support Centre, Land Team, Quadrant 2, 99 Parkway Avenue, Sheffield, S9 4WF
Need information in another format?
If you need help accessing this consultation, please contact us:
Email: DCISEnquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk
Phone: 03708 506 506
We may charge for copying costs.
Exmouth Town Council can help if you require a printed copy of the non-technical summary of the permit changes, which can be collected from the town hall. Please contact them during their opening times 9am – 4pm Monday – Friday.
Email: reception@exmouth.gov.uk
Phone: 01395 276167
For more information about environmental permits, visit: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-if-you-need-an-environmental-permit
