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The Latest Breaking News from South West Water

Dry weather sewage discharges soar as water companies face scrutiny

Exclusive: 7,280 suspected illegal spills in rivers and sea recorded in first five months of 2026

The Guardian - UK

South West Water has worst environmental record in England, analysis shows

Exclusive: Friends of the Earth finds greatest sewage discharge in Devon, Cornwall, Dorset and Somerset

The Guardian - UK

Water companies in England and Wales explore ‘surge pricing’ during drought

Suppliers could factor water scarcity into charges as part of Ofwat proposal to reduce consumption

The Guardian - UK

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Residents rage over hosepipe ban from company responsible for years of sewage spills

Angry residents say they will not be complying with the ban due to the price they pay for water, while others raised the company’s poor record on sewage spills

The Independent UK

Hosepipe ban: When will restrictions end?

Nine water companies across England and Wales have imposed hosepipe bans following persistent hot and dry weather

The Independent UK

Hosepipe ban for millions more Brits – which new areas are affected?

South West Water is implementing temporary hosepipe restrictions for customers across Devon , Cornwall , parts of Dorset and Somerset , and the Isles of Scilly . The ban, effective from midnight tomorrow (Saturday 8 August), is a response to prolonged dry weather, significantly below-average rainfall and high demand. These…

The Independent UK

Water Parasite Outbreak Leaves 140 Ill in UK, While Boss Gets £270,000 Bonus Amid Cryptosporidium Crisis

Over 140 people fell ill due to contaminated water in Devon. Despite the crisis, the former CEO of South West Water received a £270,000 bonus, sparking public outrage.

International Business Times UK

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South West Water owner admits firm must ‘learn lessons’ from parasite outbreak

Residents and businesses were left without water after cryptosporidium contamination in its water supply

The Independent UK

South West Water owner says firm must ‘rebuild trust’ after parasite outbreak

Pennon was prosecuted earlier this month at Exeter Magistrates’ Court for supplying water unfit for human consumption.

Evening Standard

Major water company hit with seven-figure fine after cryptosporidium outbreak

IN FULL

The Independent UK

South West Water gets record £1.93m fine for drinking water contamination

More than 16,000 homes in the Brixham area were issued with boil notices for up to 54 days.

Evening Standard

South West Water fined almost £2m for supplying water unfit for humans after parasite outbreak

The company was prosecuted after the water supply in the Brixham area of Devon was contaminated by the parasite which causes sickness and diarrhoea

The Independent UK

‘My son is still suffering’: the ill effects of water contamination in ‘Brixham incident’

Physical and psychological impacts of a tap water parasite outbreak continue to be felt in south Devon

The Guardian - UK

South West Water fined £1.85m over parasite outbreak in Devon

Utility company pleaded guilty to criminal offence of supplying water unfit for humans

The Guardian - UK

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Evening Standard

Water company sentenced for supplying water unfit for humans after parasitic outbreak

More than 16,000 homes in the area were issued with boil notices.

The Guardian - UK

Who are the key figures in the sewage crisis, and where are they now?

With anger stoked by Channel 4’s drama Dirty Business, we look at what has happened to some of the main players

Evening Standard

South West Water owner prepares to pay penalties after stormy weather

Pennon Group said power outages during Storm Goretti and Storm Chandra had a widespread impact to South West Water’s operations.

The Guardian - UK

Water firms sent bailiffs to tens of thousands of homes for debts under £1,000

Most recorded visits are for smaller debts, data from England and Wales suggests, though method of recovery is a postcode lottery

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The Independent UK

‘I went to hospital after drinking tap water. Now my water bill has gone up 62 per cent in two years’

Tanya Matthews went to hospital with stomach pain symptoms after the cryptosporidiosis outbreak in Brixham

The Guardian - UK

South West Water admits criminal offence over Devon parasite outbreak

Firm admits supplying water unfit for human consumption after nearly 150 people fell ill

The Independent UK

South West Water admits supplying water unfit for humans after ‘abhorrent’ parasite outbreak

Water minister Emma Hardy said the public deserved answers after the company pleaded guilty at Exeter Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday

The Guardian - UK

Dirty water, death and decline: the inside story of a privatisation scandal

There is no end in sight to the pollution caused by a ‘broken’ system. Experts say it could even be getting worse

The Independent UK

Dirty Business creator on raw sewage scandal: ‘This is the worst possible situation we’ll accept without starting a revolution’

Joseph Bullman’s shocking Channel 4 series explores two ordinary men’s extraordinary 10-year fight against British water companies

The Guardian - UK

Group expands legal claim over South West Water sewage pollution

Thousands more people across Devon and Cornwall could join case against water firm

Evening Standard

Pennon swings to profit after water bill hikes and summer heatwave

The owner of South West Water revealed the improved financial performance despite coming under fire for wastewater spills earlier this year.

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