Legal Action Against South West Water Grows Across Coastal Communities
A landmark group legal claim targeting South West Water for alleged sewage pollution into coastal waters has been significantly expanded, now encompassing thousands more residents and businesses across Devon and Cornwall. This environmental community action, initially involving 1,400 people from Exmouth, is broadening its reach to include Dawlish, Sidmouth, Teignmouth in Devon, and Newquay and Penzance in Cornwall.
Widespread Allegations of Systemic Failings
The claim asserts that South West Water's failings are not isolated but deeply entrenched across many coastal towns in the region. Oliver Holland, who leads the claim, emphasized that this expansion ensures anyone impacted by sewage pollution in these areas can join the action. He stated, "South West Water has a track record of very poor environmental performance, and my clients allege this has badly impacted their lives and livelihoods."
In 2024, South West Water discharged 544,429 hours of raw sewage into seas and coastal waters, with one overflow at Salcombe Regis operating for nearly the entire year—the longest duration in England and Wales. Ofwat, the water regulator, issued a £24 million enforcement penalty against the company last July, citing systemic maintenance and operational failures dating back to at least 2017.
Personal Stories Highlight Environmental Harm
Tina Naldrett, a 62-year-old nurse from Dawlish, has joined the claim after witnessing worsening pollution at her local beach. She described the distressing scenes: "More often I take friends into the water and we see sanitary products floating past, the plastic from tampons, actual effluent and the foam from effluent. It is getting worse." Naldrett added, "Water companies don’t own the sea. We are an island nation, the sea belongs to us all and for water companies to use the sea in this way feels immoral and ethically bankrupt."
Spills of raw sewage via combined storm overflows are legally permitted only under exceptional circumstances, such as extreme rainfall. However, Ofwat reported that more than half of South West Water's treatment plants were regularly spilling into the environment, leading to bathing alerts and beach closures that disrupt coastal use.
Implications for Businesses and Individuals
The legal claim, launched in 2024, argues that repeated sewage discharges harm both businesses and individuals by contaminating coastal waters and affecting tourism and local economies. The expansion to additional towns underscores the widespread nature of the issue, with potential for thousands more to participate. South West Water has been contacted for comment but has not yet responded to the allegations.
This case represents a critical step in holding water companies accountable for environmental damage, with campaigners urging broader action to protect marine ecosystems and public health in the South West.
