South West Water has been ordered to pay nearly £8 million in fines after admitting to a series of sewage spills at popular coastal and river sites over a six-year period.
At Plymouth Magistrates’ Court, the utility company entered guilty pleas to 17 of the 18 charges brought against it. The offences, investigated by the Environment Agency, occurred between 2015 and 2021 at locations including Bodmin, Harlyn, Playing Place, and Polperro in Cornwall, as well as Plymouth in Devon. One additional charge relates to a failure to take reasonable remedial measures following a breakdown at a sewage pumping station.
The total financial penalty amounts to £7,867,733.
In a statement issued following the sentencing, the company apologised for the historical incidents. A spokesperson clarified that the case pertained to events between 2015 and 2021, noting that the majority of the discharges were the result of storm overflow usage during heavy rainfall conditions.
South West Water highlighted its current investment efforts, stating it is committing £760 million to address storm overflow issues. The firm reported a 17% reduction in spill frequency over the last year, with the duration of spills decreasing by 25%.
“We remain focused on the future as we deliver record levels of investment to achieve cleaner rivers and seas across the South West by 2040, a decade ahead of national targets,” the company said, adding that significant improvements had been made at the specific sites where pollution was recorded.
A 17% reduction is progress, surely? Let’s see if they hit their 2040 target before judging too harshly.
What about the fish kills? The article mentions fines but says nothing about environmental restitution or restoring the rivers.
Does anyone else find it funny they apologize for ‘historical’ incidents? Isn’t that just corporate speak for ‘not our problem anymore’?
I live near Polperro and the smell was awful. Hope the £760m investment actually reaches the treatment plants.
£8 million is a drop in the ocean for a utility this size. They need stricter penalties to actually change behavior.