South West Water Admits Multiple Pollution Offences
South West Water has admitted to 18 pollution offences across Devon and Cornwall, following years of illegal discharges that impacted rivers, beaches, and protected wildlife habitats.
The water company entered guilty pleas at Plymouth Magistrates Court after an Environment Agency investigation into incidents occurring between 2015 and 2021 in locations including Bodmin, Harlyn, Playing Place, Polperro, and Plymouth.
The Environment Agency stated that 17 of the charges concerned illegal discharges, including spills of raw sewage. Sentencing is scheduled for 4 June 2026.
South West Water described the charges as relating to "historic matters between 2015 and 2021" and noted it had made significant investments since then.
Investigation Findings and Environmental Impact
Investigators identified 336 illegal spills at the Bodmin sewage works over seven years ending in March 2020. These spills resulted in sewage reaching the River Camel, a protected conservation area known for species such as Atlantic salmon, otters, and bullhead fish.
Between 2016 and 2021, untreated sewage was released 231 times at Harlyn beach in Cornwall, a popular destination for families and tourists.
South West Water also pleaded guilty to six illegal spills at the nearby Holywell sewage pumping station.
Additionally, sewage flowed into Hooe Lake in Plymouth for 88 hours over the bank holiday weekend from 28 August to 1 September 2020, following a failure at the pumping station there.
Environment Agency Response
Clarissa Newell, the Environment Agency's environment manager for Devon and Cornwall, commented on the case:
"Getting to this point and securing these guilty pleas was only possible thanks to years of thorough investigation and hard work by Environment Agency officers."
She added that the Environment Agency continues to use all available powers to ensure that "polluters must pay."
South West Water’s Actions and Apology
South West Water reiterated that the charges relate to "historic matters between 2015 and 2021" and highlighted that it has invested significantly since then. The company reported preventing more than 8,300 spills and reducing storm overflow use by 17% in the past year, with spill duration decreasing by 25%.
The firm stated that upgrades have been made at the affected sites and efforts have been undertaken to remove surface water and illegal connections from the sewage network.
A spokesperson for South West Water issued an apology for the past incidents and affirmed the company’s ongoing commitment to delivering cleaner rivers and seas.
In 2023, South West Water was fined £2.15 million for similar pollution offences.
Campaign Group Reaction
Campaign group Surfers Against Sewage acknowledged the Environment Agency’s prosecution but expressed skepticism about meaningful change.
Jo Morley, head of campaigns and advocacy at Surfers Against Sewage, said:
"In 2023, the same company was prosecuted for 13 charges and fined £2.15m, and here we are again, still swimming and surfing in sewage whilst polluters profit.
These fines are simply be the cost of doing business for water companies who pour sewage into our waters, making us sick whilst they cash in.
The government must stop pandering to the polluters - the entire broken, privatised model needs to be torn up and replaced to end this scandal."
Further Information
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