South West Water (SWW) has pleaded guilty to a catalogue of pollution-related charges spanning six years across Devon and Cornwall.
Photo: On 231 occasions untreated sewage was discharged on to Harlyn beach
The prosecution, brought by the Environment Agency, concluded at Plymouth Magistrates Court on Thursday this week. Sentencing is expected on 4 June 2026.
Of the charges, 17 are for illegal discharge activities including sewage discharges and one is for failing to take reasonable remedial measures following failure at a sewage pumping station.
The offences took place between January 2015 and July 2021 in five locations: Bodmin, Harlyn, Playing Place, Polperro and Plymouth. Three of the offences that took place occurred across an August Bank Holiday weekend.
At SWW’s sewage works near Bodmin, there were 336 illegal spills in the seven years to March 2020. Sewage discharged into the River Camel, which is a special area of conservation, and is a key habitat for Atlantic salmon, bullhead and otters.
On 231 occasions between January 2016 and July 2021, untreated sewage was discharged on to Harlyn beach, a location popular with locals and tourists.
At Hooe Lake Sewage Pumping station near Plymouth, an incident in 2020 led to a sewage discharge which started on the 28 August and continued for 88 hours until the 1 September. Hooe Lake is a priority habitat, designated for its mudflats, open waters and plant species, and is also used for watersports.
Also before the court were several criminal charges relating to spills at Holywell Sewage Pumping Station. SWW previously pleaded guilty to six charges, these will be considered at a later date to be determined.
Clarissa Newell, Environment Agency environment manager for Devon and Cornwall, said:
"Getting to this point and securing these guilty pleas was only possible thanks to years of thorough investigation and hard work by Environment Agency officers. They are committed to protecting Devon and Cornwall’s greatest assets – the beaches, waters and associated habitats.
"Polluters must pay and the Environment Agency continues to do everything in its power to ensure that they do.”
South West Water was previously prosecuted in 2023 for 13 charges between July 2016 and August 2020, and was fined £2.15 million.
With the UK government demanding a 50% reduction in storm overflow spills by 2029, the era of reactive management is over. Speaking in the House of Commons on 21 July 2025, then environment secretary Steve Reed said, “This Government will cut water companies’ sewage pollution in half by the end of the decade.”
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