Water firm fined £1.8m over parasite outbreak

South West Water has been fined £1.8m for supplying water contaminated with the cryptosporidium parasite, a record penalty for a drinking water offence in the UK [1]. The contamination in Devon in May 2024 led to over 140 confirmed cases of illness and a 54-day boil water notice for 17,000 properties [1]. The utility firm pleaded guilty to supplying water unfit for human consumption at Exeter Magistrates’ Court [1]. Judge Stuart Smith described the incident as “a major public health incident” where the disruption to daily life was “extensive” and the harm “wide-ranging and profound” [1]. The court heard that cryptosporidium from animal faeces entered the supply via a faulty, mud-covered air valve, a failure the judge attributed to an “inadequate” monitoring system and a “systemic failure of governance” [1]. Four people were hospitalised, with one victim suffering flu-like symptoms for about 10 days before vomiting and diarrhoea necessitated an ambulance [1]. Another lost almost a stone in weight after not eating for eight days [1]. The £1.853m fine was reduced by a third due to the company’s early guilty plea, bringing the total penalty including costs to £1.93m [1]. While the fine sets a new record for water pollution offences, it follows a £1.42m penalty against Anglian Water in May 2025 for a separate contamination incident [1]. South Devon MP Caroline Voaden called the penalty a “small fine,” stating it did not reflect the seriousness of the incident’s impact on public health and the local economy [1]. Keith Haslett, chief executive of parent company Pennon Group, said the firm must “learn lessons” and “rebuild trust” [1]. The prosecution was brought by the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI), which noted that while serious incidents are rare, companies must maintain the highest standards [1]. In the UK, water and sewerage services are provided by a number of regional companies [5]. The DWI’s action underscores regulatory pressure on the sector, which has faced heightened scrutiny over service and environmental performance [1].