Investigations by the Environment Agency and South West Water have identified one of the sources of faecal pollution to some of the bathing waters in the South West as "misconnections".

Pollution in rivers and around our coast can be caused by factories, farms and industry. But in many cases it can come from a much less obvious source, people’s homes, warns the Environment Agency.

Incorrect plumbing could mean that waste water from dishwashers, washing machines, sinks, baths and even toilets is flushed directly into a local river.

These 'misconnected' pipes are a common cause of pollution to rivers and streams, especially in towns and cities, and can also affect our bathing waters at coastal resorts, says the Agency.

Both organisations have been working to try and pinpoint the sources of the 'misconnection's and how these can be remedied.

"These can be misconnections to surface water drainage that discharges directly to a bathing water, or to surface water drainage that discharges into a stream, which then flows into, or close to, bathing water," explained Nick Smart from the Environment Agency.

The project is designed to investigate which surface water drainage systems are causing the most pollution, and then identify which group of houses or other properties are the source of the pollution.

"We will then be working with the local council's environmental health departments to get property owners to check their drainage systems, and where required, fix any problems. It is possible to enter properties in an attempt to solve misconnection problems," added Mr Smart.

The Environment Agency has emphasised that legally it is always the person who causes the pollution that is responsible. For misconnections this would be the homeowner.

They even suggest that prospective purchasers of a new home should get the plumbing and drainage checked to ensure there aren't any problems.

The Environment Agency and South West Water have identified one case of 'misconnection' in Bude.