Radford STW SSO Plymouth
Storm overflow operated by South West Water. The source names Hooe Lake as the receiving water.
- 21
- Spills in 2025
- 215.4
- Recorded hours
- 99.8%
- Monitor operation
- 5
- Years listed
The reported spill count was 15 higher than in 2024. This compares event counts, not discharge volume.
Checking the latest monitor report…
How it compares in 2025
Radford STW SSO Plymouth recorded 21 spills in 2025. That is more than 64% of the 14,239 overflows in England with a reported figure, and ranks 4,856th nationally. Among South West Water overflows it ranks 677th of 1,357; the median South West Water overflow recorded 21 spills.
| Group | Rank by spills | Median spills | Median hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| This outlet | – | 21 | 215.4 |
| England | 4,856th of 14,239 | 11 | 22.3 |
| South West Water | 677th of 1,357 | 21 | 39.4 |
Rank 1 has the most spills. Equal counts share a rank. Only overflows with a reported count are ranked. Counts do not measure volume, so a higher rank does not mean more sewage.
Annual spill history
| Year | Spills | Duration | Monitor operation | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 21 | 215.4 hours | 99.8% | Official data |
| 2024 | 6 | 28.5 hours | 100% | Official data |
| 2023 | 6 | 21.5 hours | 100% | Official data |
| 2022 | 61 | 117.5 hours | 100% | Official data |
| 2021 | 71 | 160.2 hours | 100% | Official data |
A missing figure means the source did not provide a usable value. A zero is shown as zero. Monitor operation below 90% can make comparison less reliable.
Outlet details
- Water company
- South West Water
- Outlet type
- Storm tank at a wastewater treatment works
- Permit
- 301935
- Activity reference
- A2
- Grid reference
- SX50195283
- Waterbody ID
- Unknown
- Location source
- Official annual grid reference
- Location precision
- About 10 metres
- Location note
- Unknown
About the name and type
The annual return lists this asset as “Storm tank at WwTW”: storm tank at a wastewater treatment works. The overflow comes from storm storage at a treatment works.
Where it is
The recorded position is about 3.8 km north of the Heybrook Bay reference point in the ONS built-up areas data.
Designated bathing waters within 3 km in a straight line:
Distance does not show that water from this outlet reaches a bathing water. Check the official bathing-water profile for its classification and advice.
Area and water pages
Check the official record
Public access to this outlet is unknown. Do not enter restricted land or use this page as a route guide.
Open official source ↗Other outlet records nearby
- Radford STW So PlymouthCurrent status unknown
South West Water · Hooe Lake
- Hooe Lake Spst Pscsoeo PlymstockCurrent status unknown
South West Water · Hooe Lake, Plym Estuary
- Hooe Road CSO PlymouthCurrent status unknown
South West Water · Hooe Lake via SWS (Estuarine)
- Marine Road No1 SPS Pscsoeo PlymstockCurrent status unknown
South West Water · The Cattewater Plym Estuary
Questions about Radford STW SSO Plymouth
- Who operates Radford STW SSO Plymouth?
- South West Water is the operator named in the annual record. The permit reference is 301935.
- Where does Radford STW SSO Plymouth discharge?
- The source names Hooe Lake as the receiving water. This does not show how far a discharge travelled.
- How many times did Radford STW SSO Plymouth spill in 2025?
- The 2025 return records 21 counted spill events and 215.4 hours of recorded discharge. Spills are counted with the 12/24-hour method, so this is not a count of every start signal.
- Can I trust the 2025 figures for this outlet?
- The monitor worked for 99.8% of the reporting period, so the annual figures cover most of the year. They still do not measure discharge volume.
- Is Radford STW SSO Plymouth discharging right now?
- This record is linked to a company live feed. The panel above shows the latest report we hold, with its date. That report can be old, and the monitor can be offline, so check the date before relying on it. A report that no discharge is taking place is not a water-quality result.
- How accurate is the map marker?
- The marker comes from the grid reference in the official annual return, which is accurate to about 10 metres. It shows the recorded outlet position, not the extent of any discharge.
- What kind of outlet is Radford STW SSO Plymouth?
- The annual return lists the asset type as “Storm tank at WwTW”, which means storm tank at a wastewater treatment works. The overflow comes from storm storage at a treatment works.
- How does Radford STW SSO Plymouth compare with other overflows?
- Radford STW SSO Plymouth recorded 21 spills in 2025. That is more than 64% of the 14,239 overflows in England with a reported figure, and ranks 4,856th nationally. Among South West Water overflows it ranks 677th of 1,357; the median South West Water overflow recorded 21 spills. Ranks compare counted spill events only. They do not compare volume or harm.
- Does zero spills mean the water was safe?
- No. A zero means the annual return recorded zero counted spill events for this outlet and year. It is not a water-quality test, and pollution can come from other sources.