Campaign Launched Calling for Removal of South West Water in Cornwall

Sick of Sewage? New Campaign Targets South West Water

A new campaign calling for the removal of South West Water from Cornwall’s water and sewage management is being launched today by a coalition of local councillors and activists.

Operating under the banner Dowr Glan, which means Clean Water in Cornish, the campaign aims to bring together Cornwall’s 213 Town and Parish Councils to formally demand action through a Vote of No Confidence in the company.

Push for public ownership

The campaign marks a shift away from consultation and discussions, focusing instead on securing formal backing from councils across Cornwall.

Its ultimate goal is to push the government to trigger the Water (Special Measures) Act 2025, which would place South West Water into special administration and move its assets into public ownership.

Penryn Town Councillor Mael Garrec, one of the campaign’s coordinators, said:
“For too long, South West Water has treated endless sewage spills as a ‘cost of doing business’ while our residents pay through the nose.

“It’s time to end this charade. We see massive sewage spills every time it rains and continuing discharges even when it’s dry, all while millions of pounds flow in dividends to Pennon Group shareholders.

“South West Water’s social licence to operate in Cornwall has expired. Dowr Glan means Clean Water in Cornish – and that’s not too much for people in Cornwall to expect.”

Concerns over sewage spills

The launch comes as residents in areas including Penryn and Mylor deal with recent sewage spills affecting streets, rivers and beaches. The campaign also highlights concerns about rising household bills.

Cornwall Councillor Dean Evans said:
“Last month, a report by Surfers Against Sewage identified South West Water as the worst-performing water company in terms of the number of so-called ‘dry spills’ – in other words, sewage releases even when there’s little or no rainfall.

“And this confirms what residents are experiencing. Our communities have reached the limit of what they will tolerate. Bringing water back into public hands is not ideological – it’s a practical necessity to safeguard public health, our environment and Cornwall’s economy.”

Campaign roadmap

The three-month campaign will include several actions aimed at building support and applying pressure:

• A dedicated website with resources for councillors, including a model motion and evidence of performance issues. You can view it here: https://sites.google.com/view/dowrglan/dowr-glan-campaign
• A social media campaign titled “Swimming in Poo”, highlighting discharge hotspots across Cornwall
• An “Enough Is Enough” live map tracking councils that pass the No Confidence motion
• A “Dossier of Failure”, which will be submitted in June to Westminster and Cornwall Council, compiling signed motions and calling for government intervention

Motion set to be introduced

Mael Garrec will bring the campaign motion to Penryn Council at its next meeting, with other councillors expected to take it forward in places including Falmouth, Helston, Camborne, Perranzabuloe and St Ive.

The motion describes a “systemic failure” by South West Water to manage Cornwall’s sewage system, stating that despite record bills and government intervention, raw sewage continues to affect the environment and public health.

It calls for councils to support a collective letter to the Secretary of State, demanding that ownership and management of water and sewage services be transferred to a publicly owned organisation run as a public service.

Mael added:
“This isn’t just a protest; it’s an eviction notice. Cornish rivers and seas are the lifeblood of our economy and our identity. We will no longer stand by while they are managed into decline for the sake of shareholder dividends.”