Sparkwell STW SSO Sparkwell
Storm overflow operated by South West Water. The source names Tributary of Silverbridge Lake as the receiving water.
- 79
- Spills in 2025
- 1,441
- Recorded hours
- 100%
- Monitor operation
- 4
- Years listed
The reported spill count was 47 lower than in 2024. This compares event counts, not discharge volume.
Checking the latest monitor report…
How it compares in 2025
Sparkwell STW SSO Sparkwell recorded 79 spills in 2025. That is more than 96% of the 14,239 overflows in England with a reported figure, and ranks 531st nationally. Among South West Water overflows it ranks 167th of 1,357; the median South West Water overflow recorded 21 spills. On the Silverbridge Lake waterbody it ranks 1st of 4.
| Group | Rank by spills | Median spills | Median hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| This outlet | – | 79 | 1,441 |
| England | 531st of 14,239 | 11 | 22.3 |
| South West Water | 167th of 1,357 | 21 | 39.4 |
| Silverbridge Lake | 1st of 4 | 18 | 44.6 |
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 | 79 | 1,441 hours | 100% | Official data |
| 2024 | 126 | 2,518.2 hours | 100% | Official data |
| 2023 | 87 | 1,627.4 hours | 100% | Official data |
| 2022 | 55 | 952.6 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
- 15/47/1/P/9
- Activity reference
- A2
- Grid reference
- SX58115701
- Waterbody ID
- GB108047004000Official waterbody record ↗
- 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.
The waterbody link opens the Environment Agency record for the exact ID in the return. It is a source lookup; we do not import its classification.
Where it is
The recorded position is about 2.9 km west of the Lee Mill reference point in the ONS built-up areas data.
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
- Tinwood CSO SparkwellCurrent status unknown
South West Water · Tributary of Silverbridge Lake
- Lee Mill STW So PlymouthCurrent status unknown
South West Water · (S) Unnamed Tributary River Yealm
- Lee Mill SPS Pscsoeo PlymouthCurrent status unknown
South West Water · River Yealm
- Ivybridge STW SSO Ivybridge 1Current status unknown
South West Water · River Erme
Questions about Sparkwell STW SSO Sparkwell
- Who operates Sparkwell STW SSO Sparkwell?
- South West Water is the operator named in the annual record. The permit reference is 15/47/1/P/9.
- Where does Sparkwell STW SSO Sparkwell discharge?
- The source names Tributary of Silverbridge Lake as the receiving water. This does not show how far a discharge travelled.
- How many times did Sparkwell STW SSO Sparkwell spill in 2025?
- The 2025 return records 79 counted spill events and 1,441 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 100% of the reporting period, so the annual figures cover most of the year. They still do not measure discharge volume.
- Is Sparkwell STW SSO Sparkwell 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 Sparkwell STW SSO Sparkwell?
- 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 Sparkwell STW SSO Sparkwell compare with other overflows?
- Sparkwell STW SSO Sparkwell recorded 79 spills in 2025. That is more than 96% of the 14,239 overflows in England with a reported figure, and ranks 531st nationally. Among South West Water overflows it ranks 167th of 1,357; the median South West Water overflow recorded 21 spills. On the Silverbridge Lake waterbody it ranks 1st of 4. 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.