South West Water Fined Over Parasite Contamination in Devon
South West Water has been fined £1.853 million following contamination of the water supply in and around Brixham, Devon, with the parasite cryptosporidium.
The incident, which lasted 54 days in May 2024, resulted in more than 140 confirmed cases of sickness and diarrhoea, with four people requiring hospitalisation.
The company pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to supplying water unfit for human consumption and issued a
"full and unreserved apology".
The sentencing took place at Exeter Magistrates' Court after a prosecution brought by the Drinking Water Inspectorate.
Judge Highlights Serious Public Health Impact
Judge Stuart Smith described the event as
"a major public health incident"with
"disruption to daily life [being] extensive".
He further stated the harm caused was
"wide-ranging and profound"and criticised the monitoring system for air valves as
"inadequate".
The judge emphasised the
"unvarnished reality"that no visual inspection scheme for air valves had been implemented, indicating a
"systemic failure of governance"by South West Water.
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