Could a new 'Devon Water' be created? Council looking at alternatives to South West Water
The idea will be formally considered at a meeting this Summer
Last updated 27th Mar 2026
Despite official figures showing a fall in the number of illegal sewage spills, today we can reveal Devon is now considering if it could create its own not-for-profit locally-owned water firm.
Whilst use of storm overflows is down nationally, figures also suggest South West Water spilt more sewage on dry days than any other firm last year. The company says it has a target is to have 10 or fewer spills a year from each of its overflows by 2040.
Paul Arnott is the deputy leader at Devon County Council and is planning a water summit later this year, where he'll be asking: "Is there another corporate way of doing it?
"Is there a way of setting up, let's call it 'Devon Water'?
"Is there a way of going to Government and saying 'well this aint working, we'll do it and come up with another structure'.
"Although I think nationalisation is out of the question, I think assigning ownership of the infrastructure to a more benevolent entity could be - and there could be payback over many years."
The planned summit, expected in the Summer, aims to 'bring together all stakeholders and look for innovative solutions' and 'to explore bold ideas, such as the potential for a Devon Water Authority that would put the needs of our communities first'.
Last year East Devon District Council, which Cllr Arnott is also leader of, confirmed it would also look at whether the proposed 8,000 new town of Marlcombe could use an alternative water provider
What has been released today?
New data published today by the Environment Agency shows a significant reduction in both the number and duration of storm overflow spills across England compared to 2024.
The headline figure is that 'there were 291,492 spill events in 2025, a 35% reduction on 2024. Total spill duration fell by almost half, with some water companies seeing reductions of over 60 and 70% compared to the previous year'.
A spokesperson added: "Access to more data than ever before, and increased monitoring and inspections, allow for a clearer understanding of water company performance. Every single storm overflow in England now has an event duration monitor fitted, providing the most complete national picture to date. That transparency matters with water companies being held to account. EDM analysis has already supported £10.2 billion of investment in storm overflow upgrades, contributing to the wider £104 billion being spent on water infrastructure over the next five years."
Alan Lovell, Chair of the Environment Agency, said: “Publishing this data each year ensures the public can see clearly what is happening across England’s storm overflows.
“While these numbers are heavily influenced by rainfall levels in 2025, substantial reductions in spill duration and events are a clear win for people and the environment.
“It is vital that improvements to the sewage system are sustained over the long term, and the Environment Agency will continue to hold water companies to account where performance falls short.”
Water Minister Emma Hardy added: “It is good to see that storm overflow spills are down since the previous year, but there is still an unacceptable amount of sewage entering our waterways and a long way to go in cleaning up our rivers, lakes and seas.
“That’s why this government is taking action. We’ve banned unfair bonuses, ringfenced a record level of investment and introduced landmark legislation to hold water companies to account – including jail time for water company executives who obstruct investigations."
What have campaigners said?
Jo Bateman, an Exmouth based sea swimmer who is trying to take legal action against pollution spills in a first-of-its-kind case, responded by saying the region has an average higher rainfall than other areas - but it was only two per cent above that for the period in question, reflecting messages from other campaigners that: "We all know the sewage system is unable to cope with a normal amount of rainfall."
What has South West Water said?
When asked about the Times report (15 March 2026) which reveals that out of nearly 15,000 unlawful dry-day sewage spills last year, South West Water was responsible for more than 4,300 discharges, making it the most serious offender in England and Wales., the firm replied: "We are clear that storm overflows must only be used when absolutely necessary.
The water firm says it continues to invest in its infrastructure and this week announced it had cut storm overflow spills at a Devon site after completing work to upgrade over 280 metres of sewers.
It said: "High Bickington, near Umberleigh in Devon, was one of the South West’s highest spilling storm overflows in 2024, recording 233 spills. Thanks to South West Water’s targeted improvements these spills were reduced significantly in 2025. To achieve this result, South West Water’s skilled engineers carried out investigations to try and uncover what was causing the storm overflow to spill. The impact of this work is gradual but measurable and saw storm overflow spills reduce by 24% in 2025 compared to 2024."
Charlie Ford, Project Manager for High Bickington, added: “This is another great example of how targeted investment and the hard work of our teams is delivering real results in communities like High Bickington.
“Groundwater infiltration is not something you can see on the surface but it has a real impact on our systems, especially during wet weather.
“By relining pipes and sealing manholes, we’re keeping groundwater out of the network, and as a result we’ve reduced spills and protected the environment.”