GROUND testing work on the Lawn in Dawlish has been completed by South West Water ahead of its major scheme to improve water quality.

Engineers have been in action across large parts of the town’s green space for the last few months.

Now contractors are clearing up the site having finished testing, the initial part of the multi-million pound scheme to improve storm overflows and sewage pollution in Dawlish.

A spokesman for SWW confirmed the team carrying out ground investigations had completed their tests.

He said: ‘The first phase of that work has now finished and our teams will be clearing the site this week.

‘We will be providing an update to businesses and customers in the area on the next steps once we have reviewed the results of these investigations.’

Drill testing has been ongoing on the Lawn where a new storage tank is expected to be situated underground to store waste water at times of peak rainfall.

Exploratory work has also taken place in Sandy Lane.

The first part of the project which has been just been completed was to determine ground conditions.

The results of these tests will be used to plan the surface water separation works and the storage tank work.

The wider scheme is aimed at tackling problems of insufficient capacity in Dawlish due to rapid growth with additional homes being built along with climate change, creating more pressure on the system.

South West Water has come under increasing criticism for using storm overflows which discharge waste water direct into rivers and the sea.

Unveiled in October, the scheme is part of a £2.8billion five-year investment programme.

The testing will help design a tailor-made solution to best meet the town’s needs while minimising disruption as much as possible.

The exploratory drilling was to give a better idea of the most suitable construction method and a clearer timeline for the project which involves constructing a separate drainage system for rainwater to reduce reliance on storm overflows.

A second underground storage tank is proposed at Sandy Lane.

Both will be up to 45metres deep and there will be associated pipework along the main streets in Dawlish including High Street, Exeter Road, The Strand, Brunswick Street and Sandy Lane.

Fixing problems where surface water is wrongly seeping into pipework, putting additional strain on the network, is also part of the plans.

Work on the huge scheme is likely to take more than 12 months and is expected to cause major disruption to the town.

SWW head of programme delivery Mark Rands said previously: ‘With an increasing population and increasing heavy storm weather events, Dawlish needs to be supported. This project will improve the bathing water quality and reduce the number of storm overflow events.

‘This is a short-term development which will improve bathing water quality and make Dawlish more attractive to tourists.’

SWW is understood to be planning a number of large infrastructure projects and Dawlish will be among the first.