South West Water invests £3.2bn in storm overflow reduction

South West Water is investing more than £700 million to reduce storm overflows across the region as part of a record £3.2 billion investment over the next five years.

The company’s Turning the Tide storm overflow programme aims to make South West Water the first provider to meet the government’s target of fewer than 10 spills per year, ten years ahead of the national deadline.

As part of its commitment to improving water quality, South West Water has pledged to eliminate storm overflows at bathing and shellfish waters by 2030. The initiative is being delivered through Amplify, the company’s new engineering alliance, which brings together leading experts to reduce reliance on storm overflows and maintain excellent bathing waters in the South West.

Susan Davy, CEO of South West Water, said: “Everyone who works at South West Water, or with us, lives in the regions we support, and they want to make a difference. Whilst reducing the use of storm overflows will take time, we are investing more than ever to deliver real change today.”

Progress is already being seen in Duloe, near Liskeard, where targeted upgrades have reduced spills by 93% over the past ten months. Improvements include enhancements to the storm weir and increased treatment capacity, tackling what was previously the highest spilling overflow in the region.

With continued investment and an ambitious strategy, South West Water aims to make lasting improvements to water quality, ensuring the South West’s waterways and coastal areas remain some of the best in the country.