South West Water Cuts Pollution and Spills Across the South West – Including Major Improvements in Cornwall

South West Water has announced major progress in cutting pollution and storm overflow spills across the region, with pollution incidents halving in the eight months to August 2025 and storm overflows down by almost 50% year-on-year.

Salcombe Regis Sees Drastic Drop in Spills

One of the biggest improvements has been at Salcombe Regis, once home to England’s highest spilling overflow in 2024. The overflow had been operating every day of the year, but since South West Water tackled several illegal connections to the local sewer network, the site has seen a dramatic turnaround.

In the 70 days since work was completed on 12th August, there has been just one storm overflow spill. The company discovered that several significant illegal connections, including highway road gullies allowing rainwater to flow into sewers, were causing excessive pressure on the system.

Protecting the Environment in Exmouth

Exmouth has also benefitted from South West Water’s wider investment programme. The company is delivering a £38 million upgrade to its network in the area to help protect the environment and maintain Exmouth Beach’s ‘excellent’ bathing water quality status, which it has held since 2016.

Upgrades to pumping stations and treatment works are already underway to significantly reduce the number of spills.

Reducing Flooding and Pollution

Across the South West, homes and businesses are now less likely to experience flooding than anywhere else in the UK. Internal sewer flooding has dropped by 68% over the past five years, while external sewer flooding has fallen by 24% since 2020.

South West Water operates 14,332 miles of sewer pipes across both urban and rural areas, meaning challenges can arise, but the company says it is working hard to resolve issues quickly and continue reducing pollution across the network.

Cutting Storm Overflow Use

The company has also recorded a 20% reduction in bathing water spills over the last five years. A key milestone has been achieved with 100% of its 1,342 storm overflows now fitted with Event Duration Monitors, which record data every few minutes. Some of these monitors capture updates as frequently as every 10 seconds, allowing South West Water to react faster and plan smarter.

Major Investment in Dawlish and Falmouth

In Dawlish, the company’s first scheme under its record 2025–2030 investment plan is already underway. The project aims to futureproof the town’s wastewater network and improve local bathing waters. It includes installing new storm tanks, each holding 2.2 million litres of storage, separating sewage from surface rainwater, and repairing groundwater infiltration points.

In Falmouth, work is progressing on a major new underground storm water storage tank designed to capture excess flows during heavy rainfall. The stored water will be held safely until the sewer network can treat it fully, helping to reduce storm overflow spills and protect water quality at Gyllyngvase Beach.

This will be followed by further improvements, including exploring nature-based solutions and surface water separation schemes to tackle other storm overflows in the town.

“Tangible Benefits” for the Region

Susan Davy, CEO of Pennon, said:
“We are investing to improve our network across the South West and we’re already seeing tangible benefits. Pollution incidents have halved in the eight months to August 2025. Storm overflow spills have reduced by nearly 50% year-on-year, benefitting from interventions and investment in our wastewater network, alongside lower rainfall year on year in the South West.

“From Salcombe Regis to Falmouth, we’re demonstrating our commitment to the region, accelerating investment in innovation, monitoring, and operational excellence to meet the government target of fewer than 10 spills per overflow, per year, a whole decade early.

“Over the next five years, our record investment plan will see long-term resilience and environmental protection delivered across the South West, in response to our customers’ priorities.”