South West Water fined £8m for hundreds of sewage spills in Cornwall and Devon
South West Water has been fined nearly £8 million for hundreds of illegal sewage discharges into sensitive habitats and bathing areas in Cornwall and Devon. The court cited reckless management and a failure to respond to environmental risks as primary reasons for the record penalty.
Why it matters
This case highlights the growing legal and public pressure on utility companies to address environmental negligence and protect public water resources.
Polperro in Cornwall, where in 2019 untreated sewage gushed through a harbour wall on a bank holiday weekend. Polperro in Cornwall, where in 2019 untreated sewage gushed through a harbour wall on a bank holiday weekend. Pollution South West Water fined £8m for hundreds of sewage spills in Cornwall and Devon District judge orders record fine for region and says incidents of pollution cannot be tolerated
Prefer the Guardian on Google A water company has been ordered to pay a record fine of almost £8m for hundreds of sewage spills at popular bathing spots and sensitive habitats in Cornwall and Devon.
On one occasion, untreated sewage gushed through a harbour wall on a bank holiday weekend but South West Water (SWW) engineers took 10 hours to attend.
Sewage was also discharged into the River Camel, which is home to otter and Atlantic salmon and is popular with birdwatchers and sailors.
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