Fears are growing amongst residents after a brown discharge was seen entering Hooe Lake.
Locals contacted Plymouth Plus after they witnessed a discoloured substance flowing from an outlet into the lake.
This has led to an urgent warning now being issued telling people in Plymstock to stay out of the water.
In a statement, Cattewater Harbour Commissioners warned:
“We have been made aware of a current ongoing incident in the vicinity of Hooe Lake with regards discharge into the water.
"South West Water are on site and assessing the situation. We would advise that paddle boarders and kayakers do not go afloat in the area at this time.”
Hooe Lake is a designated County Wildlife Site because of the mudflats, a UK Biodiversity Action Plan priority habitat that's present at low water.
The concerns follow a series of serious pollution events at the site, for which South West Water has previously pleaded guilty to charges brought by the Environment Agency.
South West Water admitted offences relating to discharges at Hooe Lake Sewage Pumping Station between 28 August and 1 September 2020.
These include releasing untreated sewage and failing to take timely remedial action following a breakdown.
South West Water are due to be sentenced on 4 June 2026 after entering guilty pleas to the criminal charges in November 2024.
Rebecca Smith MP said she was aware of the latest reports and has taken action to seek clarity. She said:
“I am aware of reports of a discharge that appears to be from Radford Sewage works into Hooe Lake, which are clearly concerning to local residents.
"It is important that the situation is fully understood, including the source and nature of any discharge, and whether any rules or permits have been breached.
"I have written to both the Environmental Agency and South West Water to seek clarification on what has happened and what steps are being taken to mitigate any issues. I will continue to monitor the situation closely.”
Former GP Dr John Mahony, Conservative candidate for Plymstock Radford, said the reports were troubling for the local community. He added:
“As a former GP for over 30 years, I know how important local environmental quality is for people’s health and wellbeing. Hearing reports of a possible discharge into Hooe Lake is naturally worrying for residents.
"I’m working with our local MP on this matter and hope the relevant authorities can provide clarity quickly, so people understand what is happening and what, if any, measures are needed to protect both the environment and the community.”
The Environment Agency confirmed to Plymouth Plus that it is now investigating the latest reports. A spokesperson said:
“We are looking into the situation in more detail, including closely monitoring the site.
“We encourage people to report suspected pollution to our 24 7 incident hotline on 0800 807060.”
Campaigners Surfers Against Sewage told us that the reports reflect an ongoing sewage crisis across the South West.
Jo Morley, Head of Campaigns and Advocacy at Surfers Against Sewage, said:
“West Water dumped sewage for over 407,000 hours in 2025, and tops the shameful league table for dry spills too. This year, the company has poured nearly 40,000 hours of sewage into the region's wild waters, and it's only March. This dirty business hasn’t changed a bit. The sewage scandal rages on.
“But it’s not about the figures. It’s about the swimmers, surfers and children that continue to risk their health because water companies and the government choose profits over people. Dirty Business gave a voice to the people whose lives have been devastated by the sewage scandal, and the ongoing silence from this Government is deafening.
“The Government must stop pandering to polluters and take back control of the broken sector to make it work for the public good, not investor purses.”
Despite the scenes captured on camera, South West Water has denied that any pollution has entered the water. A spokesperson said:
“We are currently responding to a suspected burst rising main near to our Radford sewage treatment works.
"There is no pollution to any water course, and tankering is taking place from Hooe Lake pumping station whilst our teams work as quickly as possible to facilitate the repair."
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