Home / Disasters and Accidents / South West Water Fined £2m for Parasitic Contamination
South West Water Fined £2m for Parasitic Contamination
2 Jun
Summary
- South West Water received a record fine of nearly £2 million.
- The company supplied water unfit for human consumption.
- Over 16,000 homes were under boil notices for up to 54 days.
South West Water Ltd has been fined a record £1,853,000, plus surcharges and costs, totaling £1,930,000, for supplying water unfit for human consumption in Devon. The contamination involved the parasite cryptosporidium, which caused sickness and diarrhea in at least 537 individuals, with 10 requiring hospitalisation.
Over 16,000 homes were issued boil notices, which remained in effect for some properties for up to 54 days. The court heard the water supply was likely contaminated at a farm in Devon, with soil samples testing positive for the parasite. Investigations later revealed unlawful cross-connections between a private borehole system and the public mains supply.
District Judge Stuart Smith highlighted the extensive disruption to daily life, including schools, care homes, and businesses, and the substantial impact on public confidence. He described the incident as a major public health event, noting the company's failure to implement recommended policies for maintaining air valves, calling it a "systemic failure of governance."
