A tanker seen with a hose over the wall and into the sea at Mount Batten Pier sparked sewage fears after concerned locals contacted Plymouth Plus.
Images sent to Plymouth Plus captured a Glanville Environmental tanker parked on the pier with a long hose extending over the wall and into the sea.
Wording on the side of the tanker referred to septic tank emptying, which one member of the public said increased their concern about what was happening.
However, the company has strongly denied that any sewage or waste was discharged and said the activity shown in the photographs was a seawater collection for the University of Plymouth aquariums.
A spokesperson for Glanville Environmental said:
"The tanker was carrying out one of our routine seawater collection operations for the University of Plymouth.
"On this occasion, we collected approximately 3,000 gallons of seawater from Mount Batten Pier. We delivered it directly to the University for use in their aquariums, which support marine research and the care of live specimens.
"This is a regular, longstanding service we provide to the University. We hold the required documentation and purchase orders to carry out this work. No waste materials of any kind were discharged into the harbour."
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