Water Environment
Beaches, bathing waters, rivers and our natural environment sets us apart from any other region.
The legacy of our Clean Sweep programme has been felt for many years, transforming our region’s bathing water quality. With some of the best beaches in Europe today our bathing water quality is 100% compared to c.28% in 1991 – and we want to keep it that way!
Right now, we're working on our largest environmental improvement programme across the South West. It's a significant investment we're making, the highest level in the past 15 years, but it's the right to do, as we work to protect our rivers and seas together.
We've launched WaterFit - it's about you, and our wonderful region!
Water plays a vital part in making the South West what it is, and WaterFit is all about protecting just that.
So, what are we doing?
- Making sure there's zero serious pollutions by 2025
- Targeting a year-on-year reduction in all pollutions
- Reducing spills from storm overflows to an average of 20 per year by 2025
- Achieving the region's first
This won’t happen overnight, it will take time, and we will be open and transparent about what we're doing. Keep an eye out on our website for updates on WaterFit.
Download our programme update, plan for healthy rivers and seas, plus the latest bathing water return
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| WaterFit Update - Customer Update 2023 | ||
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| Our plan for healthy rivers and seas - 2022 | Bathing water return 2022 | Storm overflows: EDM Monitoring Annual Report 2022 |
What are we doing?
Read our latest articles to find out more...
Open letter from Susan, our CEO
Since being appointed to the role of CEO in 2020, I committed to work closely with the EA to target 4 stars by 2024, recognising that sustainable change would take time for our region, and that I would be open about our environmental progress, balancing this across a wide range of outcomes, as well as committing to keep bills as low as possible.
Welcome to WaterFit
WaterFit is a series of commitments, which we’re making so we can all work together for high quality river water, beautiful coastal bathing water, and a sustainable future.
Myth vs reality: How much do you know about our water?
From flushing wet wipes to getting rid of coffee grounds, from where our water comes from, to where it goes, you may be surprised by some of these facts.
Let’s go to the beach
We’re enjoying 100% in bathing water standards across the beaches of Devon and Cornwall, so you can paddle, surf, and even swim all year round. Find out how we achieved it.
Beyond the barriers
Discover how a sewer development project is contributing to the environment as well as making the wastewater network more efficient.
Meet Maggie
Maggie’s our Environment Action Co-ordinator. Find out what she’s doing to help us improve biodiversity and make our sites more welcoming for our plants and wildlife