South West Water was fined £7,867,733 at Plymouth Magistrates' Court on 29 September 2026 in a case brought by the Environment Agency covering offences across Devon and Cornwall between January 2015 and July 2021, the agency said. It described the sum as the largest ever fine for environmental offences in the region. The company had pleaded guilty to 18 charges, 17 for illegal water discharge activities and one for failing to take reasonable remedial measures after a pumping station failure, at Bodmin, Harlyn, Playing Place, Polperro and Plymouth.

District Judge Matson found the company's conduct amounted to reckless failures in management systems and response to known risks, and said pollution incidents would not be tolerated. According to the agency, untreated sewage was discharged onto Harlyn beach on 231 occasions between January 2016 and July 2021, and there were 336 illegal spills in the seven years to March 2020 at sewage works near Bodmin. The judge said SWW had tried to minimise its role rather than accept full responsibility. The company was also ordered to pay £329,993 in costs and a £120 victim surcharge, with 56 days to pay in full. Six further charges relating to Holywell Sewage Pumping Station will be considered at a later date.