South West Water fined £2.15 million for environmental offences
Martin Redfern
South West Water has been fined £2.15 million and ordered to pay £280,000 costs after pleading guilty to thirteen environmental offences committed between July 2016 and August 2020 across Devon and Cornwall, the largest fine imposed for such offences in the region.
The company allowed toxic chemicals to escape into waterways on several occasions, causing significant environmental damage.
A single spill at Kilmington led to the deaths of thousands of fish in the River Axe, including protected species. It also pumped raw sewage into rivers and Sites of Special Scientific Interest.
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