Hundreds of water pollution incidents were recorded in East Devon between 2018 and 2022, new figures show.
Figures obtained by the RADAR news agency through a freedom of information request show 294 water pollution incidents were recorded by the Environment Agency in East Devon between 2018 and 2022 – including 58 last year.
These figures cover the first three levels of severity, with the area seeing 22 'major' or 'significant' incidents over the same timeframe, two of them last year.
The water industry has come under particular scrutiny over how they record pollution events.
In East Devon, 80 cases were assessed as coming from a water company in the past five years – with two in the most serious categories.
Water pollution can also come from other sources, such as agricultural run-off or industry and manufacturing.
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