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BBC Mar 14
South West Water admits illegal pollution in Devon and Cornwall
South West Water admits illegal pollution in Devon and Cornwall: Lawyers argue South West Water's failings are "entrenched" but the firm says it "cares deeply".
bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c24djd273y6o
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Profile picture of BBC
BBC
Credibility A
 Mar 14
South West Water admits illegal pollution in Devon and Cornwall
South West Water admits illegal pollution in Devon and Cornwall: Lawyers argue South West Water's failings are "entrenched" but the firm says it "cares deeply".
bbc.com/news/articles/c24djd273y6o
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Profile picture of Midweek Herald
Midweek Herald Mar 13
South West Water admits to pollution offences across Devon
South West Water admits to pollution offences across Devon: South West Water (SWW) has pleaded guilty to a catalogue of pollution-related charges spanning six ...
exmouthjournal.co.uk/news/25936113.south-west-water-admits-pollution-offences-across-devon/
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Profile picture of Cornwall Live
Cornwall Live
Credibility B+
 Mar 18
South West Water admits causing more than 500 pollution spills in Cornwall ...
South West Water admits causing more than 500 pollution spills in Cornwall and Devon
cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/south-west-water-admits-causing-10866566
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Profile picture of The Herald
The Herald
B+
 Mar 13
South West Water admits causing more than 500 pollution spills
South West Water admits causing more than 500 pollution spills: It pleaded guilty to 18 offences amounting to more than 500 separate sewage spills into South ...
plymouthherald.co.uk/news/plymouth-news/south-west-water-admits-causing-10866566
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Profile picture of Midweek Herald
Midweek Herald 11h
Devon plans for possible rota water cuts amid drought
Devon plans for possible rota water cuts amid drought: Devon leaders say 60 organisations are preparing for possible rota water cuts amid serious drought ...
exmouthjournal.co.uk/news/26721793.devon-plans-possible-rota-water-cuts-amid-drought/
2 similar articles
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Profile picture of The Guardian
The Guardian
Credibility B−
 Nov 05
South West Water’s failure to fix leaks ‘putting customer supplies at ...
South West Water’s failure to fix leaks ‘putting customer supplies at risk’: With parts of region served by company in severe drought still, regulators give it ...
theguardian.com/business/2026/nov/05/south-west-water-failure-fix-leaks-putting-customer-supplies-at-risk
0 similar articles
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Profile picture of Cornwall Live
Cornwall Live
B+
 Nov 04
Hosepipe ban remains in place despite recent heavy rainfall
Hosepipe ban remains in place despite recent heavy rainfall: New pictures show what a difference a few months makes as South West Water says sustained rainfall ...
cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/hosepipe-ban-remains-place-despite-11226257
3 similar articles
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Profile picture of Exmouth Journal
Exmouth Journal Nov 03
Devon standpipes warning as councillor raises drought fears
Devon standpipes warning as councillor raises drought fears: Devon councillor warns standpipes could become a risk if drought continues ...
exmouthjournal.co.uk/news/26692506.devon-standpipes-warning-councillor-raises-drought-fears/
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Profile picture of Tavistock Times Gazette
Tavistock Times Gazette Oct 30
South West Water say recent rain not enough to remove hosepipe ban
South West Water say recent rain not enough to remove hosepipe ban: THERE is no sign of the restrictions on the use of hosepipes being lifted anytime soon ...
tavistock-today.co.uk/news/south-west-water-say-recent-rain-not-enough-to-remove-hosepipe-ban-968184
4 similar articles
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Profile picture of Devon Live
Devon Live Oct 15
Severe drought 'not seen for decades' declared across South West counties
Severe drought 'not seen for decades' declared across South West counties : Warnings have been issued for Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, East Sussex and West ...
devonlive.com/news/uk-world-news/severe-drought-not-seen-decades-11200276
9 similar articles
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Profile picture of Exmouth Journal
Exmouth Journal Oct 08
South West Water admits environmental performance is not where it needs to ...
South West Water admits environmental performance is not where it needs to be: South West Water has admitted its environmental performance is not where it needs ...
exmouthjournal.co.uk/news/26618468.south-west-water-explains-sewage-spills-dry-weather/
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Profile picture of Devon Live
Devon Live Oct 06
The areas of Devon which could be hit by South West Water 'non-essential' ...
The areas of Devon which could be hit by South West Water 'non-essential' ban - full list
devonlive.com/news/devon-news/areas-devon-could-hit-south-11185621
4 similar articles
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Profile picture of Cornwall Live
Cornwall Live
B+
 Sep 29
South West Water fined almost £8M over mass sewage pollution
South West Water fined almost £8M over mass sewage pollution: The water firm has pleaded guilty to a catalogue of pollution-related charges
cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/south-west-water-sentenced-today-11176219
Key FactsSouth West Water fined £7.87m over sewage offences
Sep 29, 2026 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: plymouthherald.co.uk
  • South West Water admitted 17 illegal discharges involving more than 500 separate sewage incidents.

  • The offences occurred between January 2015 and July 2021 at five locations across Devon and Cornwall.

  • The Environment Agency reported 336 illegal spills near Bodmin and 231 untreated-sewage discharges at Harlyn beach.

  • The court imposed £7,867,733 overall; at Hooe Lake, sewage flowed for 88 hours over a bank-holiday weekend.
    • The entire broken, privatised model needs to be torn up and replaced to end this scandal.
    — Jo Morley, Head of Campaigns and Advocacy, Surfers Against Sewage
17 similar articles
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Profile picture of Midweek Herald
Midweek Herald Aug 21
South West Water urging Devon people to use water wisely
South West Water urging Devon people to use water wisely: South West Water is urging customers across Devon to use water wisely following recent blazes.
midweekherald.co.uk/news/26481760.south-west-water-urging-people-devon-use-water-wisely/
0 similar articles
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Profile picture of Tavistock Times Gazette
Tavistock Times Gazette Aug 15
Residents slam Tavy's 'shameful' sewage pollution
Residents slam Tavy's 'shameful' sewage pollution: Locals said a stream in The Meadows ‘stinks of sewage’
tavistock-today.co.uk/news/environment-news/shameful-sewage-pollution-river-tavy-935024
3 similar articles
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Profile picture of Midweek Herald
Midweek Herald Aug 08
Hosepipe ban announced across the South West this Saturday
Hosepipe ban announced across the South West this Saturday: South West Water has announced it will introduce the temporary measures across Devon, Cornwall ...
midweekherald.co.uk/news/26444241.hosepipe-ban-announced-across-south-west/
2 similar articles
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Profile picture of Cornwall Live
Cornwall Live
B+
 Aug 07
Hosepipe ban announced as resources under 'significant pressure'
Hosepipe ban announced as resources under 'significant pressure': It comes after multiple heatwaves and very little rainfall
cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/hosepipe-ban-devon-cornwall-resources-11096951
5 similar articles
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Profile picture of Cornwall Live
Cornwall Live
B+
 Aug 05
South West Water sentencing date for six years of pollution set
South West Water sentencing date for six years of pollution set: The water company admitted 18 charges of polluting Devon and Cornwall
cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/south-west-water-sentencing-date-11094582
2 similar articles
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Profile picture of Midweek Herald
Midweek Herald Jul 15
Two children hospitalised after swimming in River Exe
Two children hospitalised after swimming in River Exe: Fresh concerns over pollution in the River Exe have been raised after a Devon mother said her two children ...
midweekherald.co.uk/news/26280771.two-children-hospitalised-swimming-river-exe/
3 similar articles
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Profile picture of Cornwall Live
Cornwall Live
B+
 Jun 14
South West Water admits causing more than 500 pollution spills in Cornwall ...
South West Water admits causing more than 500 pollution spills in Cornwall and Devon
cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/south-west-water-admits-causing-10866566
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Profile picture of Cornwall Live
Cornwall Live
B+
 Apr 20
South West Water ban from Cornwall demanded
South West Water ban from Cornwall demanded: 'This isn't just a protest; it’s an eviction notice.' But the company says it is investing £760 million and has ...
cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/south-west-water-banned-cornwall-10915095
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Profile picture of Cornwall Live
Cornwall Live
B+
 Apr 16
South West Water ban from Cornwall demanded
South West Water ban from Cornwall demanded: 'This isn't just a protest; it’s an eviction notice.' But the company says it is investing £760 million and has ...
cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/south-west-water-banned-cornwall-10915095
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Profile picture of Cornwall Live
Cornwall Live
B+
 Nov 16 25
'Potential disaster' fears after 'catastrophic' sewage incident
'Potential disaster' fears after 'catastrophic' sewage incident: Environmentalists claim there have been 'repeat' spills that have gone unnoticed
cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/hold-12pm-1411-fears-devon-10644737
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