MPs from across the region held a debate in Parliament on Tuesday on what more could be done to tackle sewage pollution.

Attended by MPs from across the region, this debate was held to hold South West Water to account over recent pollution incidences including in Exmouth, Sidmouth and Budleigh Salterton. 

Simon Jupp says 'South West Water has a poor performance in Devon', which he said should be met with the ‘full force of the laws’ passed by the Conservative government. and demanded that the water company works harder to deliver the ‘highest possible standards’ which are ‘expected by local residents, visitors and businesses.’

Mr Jupp also 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.  

Water Minister Robbie Moore MP 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 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.”

South West Water said: “We work closely with Simon Jupp MP and have been listening closely to his concerns and those of our customers. Releases from overflows can result in diluted raw sewage going into our rivers and seas, and it is not acceptable. We are taking action now and we have a plan to deliver transformative change to dramatically reduce the use of storm overflows and ahead of Government targets.”