South West Water ‘not honest’ about drought preparations, watchdog claims

Devon and Cornwall had months of hosepipe bans as parts of country almost ran out of water in 2022

South West Water has been accused of not being honest with the government about its drought preparations after parts of the country almost ran out of water in 2022, it has emerged.

The Environment Agency told the water industry regulator, Ofwat, that SWW was “not honest” with regulators about the risk a drought posed to the company’s water supplies, and was inadequately prepared for the heatwave.