South West Water Scores Red for 14th Year Over Pollution Incidents

South West Water (SWW) has been rated "red" for its environmental performance for the 14th consecutive year by the Environment Agency, indicating its performance remains significantly below target with a consistent two-star rating since 2011. In 2024, SWW was responsible for 189 pollution incidents, including four serious ones, which doubled compared to the previous year, although the total number of pollution incidents slightly decreased by five. Despite this, SWW has made notable progress by halving pollution incidents and reducing storm overflow spills by nearly 50% in the eight months leading to August 2025, with specific improvements in areas such as Salcombe Regis and Exmouth through investments and network upgrades. The Environment Agency has increased inspections of SWW sites and assets, aiming to double them by 2026, and has called for a fundamental cultural shift among water companies to improve environmental performance. The company acknowledges the challenges posed by the region's coastline and is committed to further investment in innovation, monitoring, and operational excellence to continue reducing pollution. Overall, while SWW shows some improvements, the need for sustained and future-focused efforts remains critical to meet rising environmental standards.