River TruthRiver Truth
← River Truth

South West Water · overflow SBB00797

No active event

River Torridge

Recorded by the operator as RIVER TORRIDGE.

The monitor for overflow SBB00797 (operator listed as South West Water) reports no current spill. The data records 50 spill events totalling 3.8 h in the last 30 days.

📍 50.96278°, -4.19691°

Truth Engine flags· 1 open

Spill record· since 6 May 2026

211

spill events

51h

cumulative discharge

20.4 h

longest single event

2026-05-09

first event on record

In the last 30 days this overflow recorded 8h of discharge. Across South West Water's 1,345 monitored overflows the median was 0h. This site is in the top 3% by 30-day spill duration.

On the River Torridge· 11 other overflows

11 other overflows discharge into the River Torridge. Combined recorded discharge in the last 30 days: 1h.

All overflows recorded on this watercourse →

Recent spill events· last 30 days

Rainfall comes from the nearest Environment Agency rain gauge within 10 km, using 15-minute readings rolled into hourly totals. Where a gauge is further away, or too many readings are missing, we say so rather than guess. Rain figures do not show whether a discharge was permitted; that is a matter for the regulator. How we keep the record.

The operator's own annual returns· 2024 to 2025

What the water company itself reported to the Environment Agency’s annual returns for this overflow, year by year. Hours are the total reported discharge duration; monitor working is the share of the year the event monitor was operating (a figure of 0% may mean no usable monitoring data rather than no spills). These figures are the operator's own reporting, not our measurement, and our live record above begins on 6 May 2026.

YearSpills countedHoursMonitor workingMatched by
20247289h96%hub id
20256268h100%hub id

2024, the operator's stated reason: "Data collection - Confirmed exceptional weather"

2025, the operator's stated reason: "Not Applicable - Ongoing investigation"

Source: Environment Agency, Event Duration Monitoring storm overflow annual returns, all years. Matched to this overflow by hub id.

How we keep the record.

Rain at the nearest gauge· 6.7 km away

The nearest Environment Agency rain gauge, Parkham, is 6.7 km from this overflow. It recorded 3.6 mm in the last 48 hours.

Day (UTC)Rain
17 Oct 20260.0 mm
16 Oct 20262.2 mm
15 Oct 20265.6 mm
14 Oct 20260.1 mm
13 Oct 20265.0 mm
12 Oct 20261.3 mm
11 Oct 20260.3 mm

Rainfall comes from 15-minute Environment Agency readings rolled into hourly and daily totals; the 48-hour figure rests on 123 of 192 possible readings. The gauge is 6.7 km from this overflow, so it may not match the rain at the site itself, and the latest day may be incomplete. Rain figures do not show whether a discharge was permitted; that is a matter for the regulator. How we keep the record.

River level and flow nearby· 2.1 km away

Latest readings at the Environment Agency gauge "Weare Giffard", on the River Torridge, which is 2.1 km from this overflow.

These are the Environment Agency's own gauge readings at the named station, shown for context. The station measures the river, not this overflow, and a reading does not show whether a discharge occurred or was permitted. Trend compares the latest reading with the one nearest 24 hours earlier; a change of 5% or less is shown as steady. How we keep the record.

Nearby water quality· 6 sampling points within 5 km

  • SW-72920121 · FRESHWATER - RIVERS

    RIVER TORRIDGE AT BEAM BRIDGE

    1.6 km away

    No swimmer-relevant measurements available.

  • SW-72921406 · FRESHWATER - RIVERS

    LANGTREE LAKE AT SERVIS FARM

    2.3 km away

    No swimmer-relevant measurements available.

  • SW-72913412 · FRESHWATER - RIVERS

    HUNTSHAW WATER AT BRIDGE AT VAN'S WOOD

    2.3 km away · last tested 11 days ago

    • ✓Water temperature14.8 CEL
    • ✓pH8.42 PHUNITS

  • SW-72911919 · FRESHWATER - RIVERS

    RIVER YEO (BIDEFORD) AT HEALE HOUSE

    3.1 km away · last tested 12 days ago

    • ✓pH7.84 PHUNITS
    • ✓Water temperature14.8 CEL

  • SW-RSN0963 · FRESHWATER - RIVERS

    RSN0963 LANGTREE LAKE AT PRIESTACOTT MILL

    3.1 km away

    No swimmer-relevant measurements available.

  • SW-72910447 · FRESHWATER - RIVERS

    JENNETS STREAM UPSTREAM CONFLUENCE WITH TORRIDGE ESTUARY

    4.8 km away

    No swimmer-relevant measurements available.

Take action

The record above is verifiable from public Environment Agency and water-company data. Three official accountability channels — pre-filled with the evidence on this page.

Are you here right now?

If you can see foam, sewage debris, dead fish, or smell something wrong — submit a citizen report. Confirmed reports are added to the Truth Engine and strengthen the public record on this overflow.

📷 Report what you saw →

1. Complain to South West Water

The official complaints route. Most companies require submission through their web form rather than email — open the form, then paste the pre-filled letter.

Open South West Water complaints formEmail press office instead
Preview the letter
Subject: Storm overflow SBB00797 on the RIVER TORRIDGE: request for information

Dear South West Water,

I am writing about storm overflow SBB00797 on the RIVER TORRIDGE.

Environment Agency storm overflow monitoring data for overflow SBB00797 on the RIVER TORRIDGE (operator listed as South West Water) records at least 50 spill events starting between 17 September 2026 and 17 October 2026; the 48 with a published end time total 3.8 h. The most recent recorded event started on 17 October 2026 at 11:44 UTC.

As of 17 October 2026 at 22:25 UTC, the monitor does not report the overflow as spilling.

Further details from the public record:
- Open automated data flags on River Truth for this overflow: 1 (comparisons between public datasets, not findings of fault)
- On the River Torridge, per the OS Open Rivers network (Ordnance Survey, Open Government Licence)
- Location: 50.96278, -4.19691
- Sources: Environment Agency National Storm Overflow Hub and Water Quality Archive (Open Government Licence v3.0), cross-referenced via River Truth (https://rivertruth.co.uk/overflow/25621)

These figures are taken from public monitoring data as published and may be revised by the publisher. They are not a finding that any permit condition has been breached.

[Add your personal context here, for example how you use this stretch of water.]

Please could you tell me:
1. Whether the monitoring record summarised above is accurate and complete
2. What caused the recorded spill events
3. What work, if any, is planned at this overflow, and on what timeline
4. What measures are in place to reduce spills from this overflow in future

[Delete if not applicable: I have copied the Environment Agency, Ofwat and my MP into this correspondence.]

Yours faithfully,
[Your name]
[Your address]
[Your customer reference if you are a South West Water customer]

2. Write to the MP for this stretch

This overflow sits in the Torridge and Tavistock constituency — currently represented by Sir Geoffrey Cox (Conservative). Click below to open WriteToThem with the letter copied to your clipboard — paste it into the message box.

Write to Sir Geoffrey Cox →View MP's contact page →
Or write to your own MP instead

Prefer to write to the MP for where you live? Enter your postcode and we'll redirect WriteToThem accordingly.

Preview the letter
Subject: Constituent query: storm overflow SBB00797 on the RIVER TORRIDGE

Dear [your MP, WriteToThem will fill this in],

I am writing as your constituent about public storm overflow monitoring data for our area.

Environment Agency storm overflow monitoring data for overflow SBB00797 on the RIVER TORRIDGE (operator listed as South West Water) records at least 50 spill events starting between 17 September 2026 and 17 October 2026; the 48 with a published end time total 3.8 h. The most recent recorded event started on 17 October 2026 at 11:44 UTC.

As of 17 October 2026 at 22:25 UTC, the monitor does not report the overflow as spilling.

Further details from the public record:
- Open automated data flags on River Truth for this overflow: 1 (comparisons between public datasets, not findings of fault)
- On the River Torridge, per the OS Open Rivers network (Ordnance Survey, Open Government Licence)
- Location: 50.96278, -4.19691
- Sources: Environment Agency National Storm Overflow Hub and Water Quality Archive (Open Government Licence v3.0), cross-referenced via River Truth (https://rivertruth.co.uk/overflow/25621)

These figures are taken from public monitoring data as published and may be revised by the publisher. They are not a finding that any permit condition has been breached.

[Add your personal context here, for example how you and your family use this stretch of water.]

I would like to ask:
1. Whether you support strengthening the regulatory regime for storm overflows, and monitor coverage in particular
2. Whether you would raise the monitoring data for this overflow with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Environment Agency or Ofwat

Yours sincerely,
[Your name]
[Your address (WriteToThem requires a postal address to verify your constituency)]

MP details are looked up live from the UK Parliament Members API under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0. River Truth makes no claim about this MP's voting or advocacy record on water issues — they are shown solely as the elected representative for this constituency.

3. Report to the Environment Agency

For active pollution incidents — dead fish, foam, sewage on the riverbank — the EA hotline operates 24/7 and triggers a recorded investigation.

📞 0800 80 70 60 (24/7)Report online →
Share to X →