Simon Jupp, MP for East Devon, led a debate in Parliament on Tuesday 5th March 2024 on South West Water’s poor performance in Devon, which he said should be met with the ‘full force of the laws’ passed by the Conservative government.
Attended by MPs from across the region, the East Devon MP used his debate to hold South West Water to account over recent pollution incidences including in Exmouth, Sidmouth and Budleigh Salterton, and demanded that the water company works harder to deliver the ‘highest possible standards’ which are ‘expected by local residents, visitors and businesses.’
As part of this, Simon Jupp MP called for multi-million-pound investment plans from South West Water to be sped up in Exmouth and Sidmouth.
Whilst criticising South West Water’s senior leadership for their failures, the East Devon MP thanked the company’s ground teams in Exmouth for their recent work to repair problems in the town, saying they aren’t to blame for the issues they are being sent out to fix.
The East Devon MP also spoke about the important role of industry regulators Ofwat and the Environment Agency. The regulators have been supported by new powers and laws introduced by the Conservative government, such as unlimited fines, accelerated investment plans, legal targets to reduce discharges from every single storm overflow, compulsory storm overflow monitors, and live spill data to be made public.
Water Minister Robbie Moore MP, who was responding directly to the East Devon MP’s debate, highlighted how these regulators are working to hold South West Water to account. Ofwat has directed South West Water to return £9.2 million to customers during the financial year of 2024-25, in addition to the £13.3 million returned in the financial year 2022-23.
The Environment Agency, which is growing at its local base in Exeter and has seen staff numbers across the entire organisation increase by 2,300 in the past two years, also secured a £2.1 million fine from the water company in April 2023.
Simon Jupp MP continues to work with Ofwat and the Environment Agency as they investigate South West Water’s poor performance and sewage discharges.
The Water Minister, who met with Simon Jupp MP in East Devon last month, agreed that South West Water must take ‘urgent steps’ to significantly reduce its pollution incidences and thanked the MP for leading the debate.
Simon Jupp, MP for East Devon, said; “One year on from my last debate on the water company in Parliament, I was pleased to secure and lead another debate about the poor performance of South West Water this week. I repeated my calls for unacceptable pollution in Exmouth, Budleigh Salterton and Sidmouth to be met with the full force of the laws I voted for, which have been passed by this Conservative government. We all want to protect our stunning coastline, rivers and streams and hold South West Water to account for its failings. I won’t rest until South West Water cleans up our water and delivers the much-needed substantial investment they have promised.”