Under fire South West Water boss to go

Susan Davy, the chief executive of South West Water (SWW) and a board member of its parent company Pennon Group, has announced her retirement — just days after regulator Ofwat proposed a £24 million enforcement packageover the company’s repeated failures in managing wastewater treatment.

Davy, who has served as CEO for five years and was previously Pennon’s chief financial officer, described the role as “totally fulfilling,” saying: “Running a water company is always interesting, often challenging, but totally fulfilling. I have enjoyed taking responsibility for the provision of a sustainable service to millions of homes.”

However, her departure comes at a turbulent time for the company. Last week, Ofwat published the findings of a three-year investigation, concluding that South West Water had failed to meet its legal obligations in wastewater management — leading to unlawful sewage spills across the South West.

The regulator said SWW lacked adequate management systems and board oversight, allowing untreated wastewater to be discharged into the environment when it should not have happened. These failures triggered the proposed £24 million enforcement package, which includes spending on reducing storm overflows and funding for environmental recovery in affected areas.

Environmental groups and local campaigners have long criticised South West Water for its record on pollution, with Devon and Cornwall among the worst-hit regions for sewage spills in the UK. Davy's leadership — and the profits and bonuses paid out under it — have been central to public frustration.

While Pennon Group has not linked the timing of Davy’s retirement to the enforcement action, the coincidence is unlikely to go unnoticed by residents, river users, and activists calling for greater accountability in the water industry.

Ofwat’s public consultation on the enforcement action remains open: