Residents in Brixham, Devon, are still grappling with the aftermath of a major water contamination incident more than a year after it unfolded, as South West Water faces legal action over its handling of a parasite outbreak that left scores ill and the community shaken. The company, which serves around two million people across Cornwall, Devon, and the Isles of Scilly, has been issued a court summons for potential criminal offences under section 70(1) of the Water Industry Act 1991—the law that makes it illegal for a water company to supply water unfit for human consumption.
The trouble began in May 2024, when small traces of the parasite cryptosporidium were detected in the Hillhead reservoir, which supplies water to Brixham and the surrounding areas. Cryptosporidium, a microscopic parasite, can cause cryptosporidiosis, a disease marked by severe diarrhoea, stomach cramps, and vomiting. According to the UK Health Security Agency, the outbreak led to 118 confirmed cases of cryptosporidiosis, with many local residents telling Sky News at the time that they were left sick for weeks. The effects rippled through the community, damaging businesses, hurting the local economy, and—most importantly—leaving many people severely ill.
Initially, South West Water assured customers that the water was safe to drink. However, that reassurance was short-lived. As more information about the contamination emerged, the company was forced to issue a boil notice to 16,000 households and businesses in Brixham, Boohay, Kingswear, Roseland, and North West Paignton. The sudden reversal sowed confusion and distrust among locals, many of whom felt let down by the very organization tasked with safeguarding their most basic necessity: clean drinking water.
For many in the area, the memory of the outbreak is far from distant. Caroline Voaden, Liberal Democrat MP for South Devon, voiced her constituents’ lingering concerns in a statement released on September 7, 2025. She said, “Many of my constituents still don't trust the drinking water and are paying for bottled water more than a year on from the outbreak. This incident affected the whole community, damaged businesses, hurt the local economy, and most importantly, made many people severely ill.”
Voaden also welcomed the legal proceedings, emphasizing the need for transparency and accountability. “It’s important we find out exactly what South West Water knew, and when, and why they told people the water was safe to drink when it wasn’t. It’s taken a long time to get to this point, but finally, we are seeing South West Water brought to account,” she added.
The Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI), the government regulator responsible for ensuring water quality in England and Wales, announced on September 5, 2025, that it had issued a court summons to South West Water. The case is scheduled to be heard on October 2, 2025, at Exeter Magistrates’ Court. Marcus Rink, chief inspector at the DWI, underscored the seriousness of the situation, stating, “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.”
The legal basis for the prosecution is section 70(1) of the Water Industry Act 1991, which makes it a criminal offence for a water company to supply water that is unfit for human consumption. The outcome of this case could have major implications, not just for South West Water, but for the water industry as a whole. It raises questions about how water companies monitor, communicate, and respond to potential threats to public health, and whether existing safeguards are adequate to prevent similar incidents in the future.
South West Water, for its part, has apologized for the outbreak and pledged to cooperate fully with the authorities. In a statement provided to Sky News, a company spokesperson said, “We will reflect on this summons. South West Water has cooperated fully with the Drinking Water Inspectorate from the outset of this incident to help in its investigations. We take this incident extremely seriously, and we will continue to engage fully in response to these legal proceedings. In the meantime, our focus remains on delivering clean, safe drinking water to our c.2 million customers across Cornwall, Devon, and the Isles of Scilly.”
The company repeated its commitment on September 7, 2025, stating, “We take this incident extremely seriously, and we will continue to engage fully in response to the legal proceedings. In the meantime, our focus remains on delivering clean, safe, drinking water to our two million customers across Cornwall, Devon, and the Isles of Scilly.”
The outbreak and its mishandling have left scars on the local community. Many residents remain wary of tap water, opting instead for bottled alternatives at their own expense. The loss of trust is palpable, and the economic impact on local businesses—especially those in hospitality and tourism—has been significant. The incident became a flashpoint for broader concerns about water quality, infrastructure investment, and corporate accountability in the UK’s privatized water sector.
Historically, waterborne outbreaks in the UK are rare, thanks to stringent regulations and monitoring. However, when they do occur, they can have outsized effects—especially in close-knit communities like Brixham, where word travels fast and livelihoods are closely tied to the town’s reputation. The cryptosporidium outbreak highlighted gaps in crisis communication and raised uncomfortable questions about the speed and transparency of corporate responses to public health threats.
As the October 2 court date approaches, residents and observers alike will be watching closely to see how the legal process unfolds. Will the court hold South West Water accountable for the suffering and disruption caused by the outbreak? And will the proceedings prompt broader reforms in how water companies are regulated and overseen?
For now, Brixham’s experience serves as a sobering reminder that the infrastructure underpinning daily life is only as strong as the trust people place in it. When that trust is shaken, it can take years—and more than a few court dates—to restore.
