South West Water fined for pollution offences

South Weest Water has been find £2.1 million for pollution offences in Devon and Cornwall.

The fine is for a series of environmental offences across Devon and Cornwall spanning a period of four years and is the largest ever fine imposed for environmental offences in the region.

District Judge Matson delivered the sentence saying: "incidents of pollution will no longer be tolerated by these courts".

The company was sentenced 13 charges – six for illegal water discharge activities and for seven offences of contravening environmental permit conditions. The company had pleaded guilty at an earlier court hearing.

The offences took place between July 2016 and August 2020 at Lostwithiel, Kilmington, Crediton and Torpoint sewage treatment works and the Watergate Bay sewage pumping station.

Alan Lovell, chair of the Environment Agency, said: "We welcome this sentence. Serious pollution is a serious crime – and we have been clear that the polluter must pay.

"The Environment Agency will pursue any water company that fails to uphold the law or protect nature and will continue to press for the strongest possible penalties.

Water minister Rebecca Pow said: "Water companies should not be letting this happen and those that do will be punished using the full force of the law. This fine reflects the severity of the pollution that occurred across Devon and Cornwall, causing damage to both wildlife and protected sites.

"It will rightly be paid solely from the company’s operating profits and not passed on to customer bills.

"As set out in our recent Plan for Water, fines handed out to water companies that pollute our rivers and seas will be re-invested into a new Water Restoration Fund, which will deliver on-the-ground improvements to our natural environment and water quality."

Image: St John's Lake
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