New Devon water quality partnership approved by council

Devon County Council has approved plans for a new county-wide partnership aimed at tackling declining water quality in the region’s rivers, estuaries and coastal waters.

At a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, councillors endorsed a proposal for the local authority to take a "strategic convening role," bringing together regulators, water companies, landowners, district councils and community groups to address ongoing environmental concerns.

Data presented to the cabinet revealed that only about one-fifth of Devon’s surface water bodies currently meet the "good ecological status" required under national regulations. Officials identified several contributing pressures, including agricultural runoff, urban pollution, wastewater discharges, and the intensifying impact of climate change on rainfall and flooding.

'Fragmented' approach

Councillors were told that while responsibility for water quality is currently shared across numerous organisations, the current landscape of activity is often "fragmented." This has led to overlaps, gaps in service, and widespread uncertainty regarding which agency holds accountability for specific issues.

The council intends to develop a comprehensive, county-wide picture of current responsibilities and existing activity. This will involve mapping pollution hotspots and clarifying the statutory roles of different agencies.

A central element of this new strategy will be the hosting of Devon’s first water quality summit. The event is intended to foster "shared learning, constructive debate and agreement on next steps," ultimately shaping a collaborative Devon Water Quality Action Plan.

'People expect public bodies to work together'

Councillor Paul Arnott, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Local Government Reorganisation and Water Quality, said: "Water quality is one of the issues people across Devon care most deeply about; regardless if it’s in the context as a resource to drink, to grow crops and maintain live stock or because we are the only county with two coastlines and it’s the lynchpin of our tourist economy, people quite rightly expect public bodies to work together more effectively to protect our rivers, beaches and wildlife."

He added: "This approach is about bringing everyone around the table, being clear about who does what, and making sure we are joining up the good work already happening across the county. By hosting a Devon Water Quality Summit, we want to create the space for honest discussion, shared understanding and practical collaboration that leads to real improvements on the ground."

While the county council has limited direct statutory responsibility for regulating water quality, Councillor Arnott noted the importance of its leadership in improving transparency.

"This approach is about collaboration, clarity and transparency – bringing partners together to better understand where collective action can make the biggest difference," he said.