The Drinking Water Inspectorate has announced that a court summons has been issued to South West Water for prosecution for potential offences under section 70(1) of the Water Industry Act 1991.
The summons follows the investigation by quality regulator for public water supplies in England and Wales into the Cryptosporidiosis outbreak event in the Brixham area in May 2024. The summons is now listed for hearing on 21 November 2025 before Exeter Magistrates’ Court.
Marcus Rink, Chief Inspector of the Drinking Water Inspectorate, said:
“The Brixham incident was serious with significant impact on the public and the wider community. Accordingly, I consider it appropriate to pass the matter to the court to consider the evidence in the public interest.”
Due to the ongoing criminal proceedings the Inspectorate said it will not be able to make any further comment or share any information which could prejudice the proceedings.
The DWI investigates all drinking water quality events in England and Wales and will bring prosecutions if it believes that it has reliable evidence that an offence was committed, where the company does not have a defence that it took all reasonable steps and exercised all due diligence, and when such a prosecution is regarded as being in the public interest.
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