Richard Foord MP is calling for urgent government action to protect the River Otter.
The Honiton and Sidmouth MP raised the issue during a parliamentary debate on June 18, highlighting high phosphate levels linked to treated sewage effluent and water company practices.
He said: "I should say at the outset that I declined an offer of hospitality with the new chief executive of South West Water, and its parent company Pennon Group, this morning.
"They offered breakfast in Parliament, which I did not accept.
"My office has written back to South West Water to request a separate meeting with the new chief executive, but some of the issues that I wish to raise will have application across the water industry.
"I met with the last chief executive, and I look forward to meeting with this one, albeit not over a fry-up, paid for by Pennon group."
Mr Foord praised the work of Otter Valley Association volunteers, who collect samples every two weeks at three locations along the river to track pollution, rainfall influence, and contamination sources.
He said: "The evidence gathered by Otter River Catchment Action is particularly striking.
"Their monitoring suggests that a single sewage treatment works on the river can increase harmful phosphate concentrations in the river by around 80 per cent during the summer months.
"Their testing indicates that around 70 per cent of phosphate found in the middle and lower Otter can be attributed, not to agricultural pollution, but to treated sewage effluent."
He described the pollution as a "conveyor" of environmental harm.
He said: "Effectively, South West Water has been using the river Otter as a conveyor; a free, open, half-pipe sewer, resulting in significant environmental harm."
Mr Foord asked what measures in the government’s forthcoming clean water bill could help address these problems.
Minister Mary Creagh said monitoring of the river would be increased.
She said: "The Environment Agency is expanding monitoring of the river, and it welcomes the support of local groups, including the Otter Valley Association and Otter River Catchment Action, ORCA.
"The clean water Bill will deliver on commitments in the White Paper, driving reforms to transform the water system for good and secure a sustainable system for future generations."
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