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Tue, 02 Jun 2026

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 Water firm fined £1.8m over parasite outbreak

Four people were hospitalised and there were more than 140 cases of sickness and diarrhoea in Devon.
The utility firm has been sentenced to a record fine for a drinking water offence at Exeter Magistrates' Court, following a prosecution brought by the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI). Four people were hospitalised and over 140 cases of sickness and diarrhoea were confirmed during the 54-day incident in May 2024. Judge Stuart Smith described it as "a major public health incident" with "wide-ranging and profound harm". South West Water pleaded guilty to supplying water unfit for human consumption, offering a full and unreserved apology. The company has responded rapidly to the contamination, deployed personnel, and provided financial remediation to those affected. A £1.853m fine was reduced by a third due to an early guilty plea. The total penalty handed to South West Water is £1.93m, comprising the fine, a surcharge of £2,000 and costs of £75,000. This incident highlights the importance of maintaining high standards in drinking water supplies or facing serious consequences, said DWI chief inspector Marcus Rink. Those affected by the outbreak spoke about its impact on their lives, with one person describing flu-like symptoms for 10 days before experiencing vomiting and diarrhoea. Another described a glass of tap water tasting "like it had come from a pond" before they experienced diarrhoea during a family holiday.