South West Water has been fined £1.9 million after admitting supplying water that was unfit for human consumption in South Devon.
537 people were left unwell and 10 were hospitalised after the water supply was contaminated with the parasite cryptosporidium in Brixham in May 2024.
Around 16,000 homes and businesses in Brixham, Kingswear and Paignton – a population of almost 39,000 – were told to boil their water and the notice was not lifted until July 2024.
At Exeter Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, District Judge Stuart Smith said South West Water was guilty of a ‘serious failure’ to protect the public and a ‘systemic failure of governance within the organisation’ which left a ‘deep and lasting harm’.
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