South West Water tops England's worst polluters list, analysis reveals
Friends of the Earth’s review finds South West Water responsible for the highest volume of sewage discharges and among the most expensive water bills in England.
An analysis by Friends of the Earth compared England’s water firms across six environmental criteria and concluded that South West Water performed worst in four of them. Since 2024 the utility has logged the longest cumulative sewage spill time, averaging 574,323 hours each year, and its bathing-water sites recorded 666 pollution incidents and warnings in 2025 alone. The regulator monitors 157 official bathing locations within the company’s catchment.
Customers of South West Water, roughly 1.8 million, now face some of the nation’s highest water charges at £726 per year, a 39% increase since 2024. The company’s spokesperson highlighted a 17% drop in storm-overflow spills and a 25% reduction in spill duration, aiming to meet 2030 bathing-water standards ahead of schedule. Environmental advocates, led by Kierra Box, are pressing the government for a comprehensive clean-water bill and possible nationalisation of water firms. Defra and Water UK have both signalled further sector reforms and investment to halve spills over the next five years.
Why it matters
The report highlights severe pollution and rising costs for millions, prompting calls for stronger regulation of England’s water sector.
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