The urban part of Dawlish Water is prone to flooding in certain situations, particularly with winds between south and east, when moisture-laden air is forced up the slopes of Haldon Hill, where it then condenses and precipitates.

It is a relatively quick-response watercourse, so is susceptible to intense rainstorms, however river levels tend to fall fairly swiftly afterwards.

The only major tributary is Brown’s Brook, which is approximately 3km long and comes from Lidwell Chapel, in turn located on Little Haldon.

Water quality is sometimes affected after heavy rainfall due to upstream farm effluent, and combined sewer outfalls in the river as it passes through the town.

This in turn can affect the bathing water quality on the beach immediately next to the river, after heavy rain.