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Cornish Village Drowning in Sewage: Residents' Plea
6 Mar
Summary
- Raw sewage, including waste and syringes, has flooded Cornish homes.
- Villagers report severe physical and mental health impacts from the ongoing issue.
- South West Water has expedited planned sewer improvements following resident complaints.
In Stithians, Cornwall, residents are experiencing a decade-long crisis of raw sewage overflowing from manholes and flooding their homes. The sewage contains hazardous materials such as excrement, toilet paper, sanitary products, and hypodermic syringes, creating a public health hazard in streets frequented by children.
One resident described the situation as "horrendous" and noted that villagers have become "shells of people," suffering from physical and mental health deterioration. Representatives from South West Water, the Environment Agency, and Cornwall Council met at the Healthy Rivers and Seas Summit to discuss the escalating problem.
Carolyn Cadman of South West Water apologized for the ongoing distress and confirmed that scheduled improvements to the sewer system have been fast-tracked. These works include replacing approximately 125 meters of sewer pipes with larger ones and enhancing manhole sealing.
The Environment Agency has warned that such issues are likely to increase due to climate change vulnerability in water networks, emphasizing the need for proactive maintenance from water companies.
