Thousands of households and businesses in Devon, Plymouth, Tavistock, and Torquay are set to receive up to £200 in compensation after a major water supply issue left them without running water for several days. The outage was caused by a burst water main, which disrupted the supply to nearly 13,000 properties starting Sunday.
After days of inconvenience, South West Water (SWW) has now restored water across the affected areas and is offering compensation to those impacted.
What Happened?
Over the weekend, residents across several parts of West Devon woke up to find no water supply due to a significant burst in a water main. The issue caused major problems for homes and businesses, leading to strong complaints and urgent calls for action.
South West Water worked to resolve the issue and, by Tuesday, confirmed that full supply had been restored. The company explained that while water had returned, it might take some time to reach every part of the system due to the land’s topography and increased demand.
Customers were also told to expect some discolouration in their water, which is normal after such events and can be resolved by running the cold kitchen tap for a short time.
How Much Compensation Will You Get?
South West Water has promised to pay household customers £200 as a gesture of goodwill. This goes beyond the legal minimum that companies are required to pay during such outages.
Here’s the breakdown:
- £50 for every 12 hours without water
- Up to £250 total, depending on how long the service was unavailable
For business customers, the compensation is even higher:
- £100 per 12 hours without water
- Up to £400 total, with extra claims allowed for further losses
SWW confirmed that they will also provide details for businesses to apply for extra compensation if they suffered serious disruptions beyond the basic payout.
Why Is the Compensation Higher Than Usual?
The usual legal requirement for such water outages is:
- £20 for the first 12 hours and £10 for every additional 24 hours for households
- For businesses, it’s £50 for the first 12 hours and £25 per additional 12 hours
But SWW is offering more, to show goodwill and acknowledge the impact the outage had on daily life and local business operations.
A Labour MP, Fred Thomas from Plymouth Moor View, said that South West Water confirmed to him that household compensation may reach up to £250, and £400 for businesses, based on the outage period.
South West Water’s Apology
SWW released a statement thanking people for their patience and understanding. A spokesperson said, “We are pleased to say that customers should now be back in supply. We want to apologise again for the inconvenience this has caused.”
They also appreciated the kindness shown to their teams on the ground who worked hard to provide bottled water and fix the damage.
What You Should Do Next
If your home or business was affected, you don’t need to apply for the standard compensation—it will be automatically credited to your account. For businesses with additional losses, a special claims process will be announced soon.
To be sure you’re covered, keep an eye on official updates from South West Water and check your online account regularly.
After days without running water, residents and businesses in Devon are finally seeing some relief. South West Water has restored supply and is offering generous compensation to affected customers—£200 to £250 for homes and up to £400 for businesses.
While the situation caused major inconvenience, the response from the water supplier and the planned payments aim to make up for the trouble. If you were affected, stay informed and wait for your compensation to reflect in your account or apply for further support if needed.
FAQs
How much compensation will Devon households receive after the water outage?
Households affected by the water outage in Devon will receive up to £200, and possibly up to £250, depending on how long they were without service.
How much will business customers get from South West Water?
Businesses will receive up to £400 for the outage, with additional claims possible for further losses.
Do I need to apply for the compensation?
No, the basic compensation will be automatically credited to your account. Businesses may need to apply for extra support.
Why is the compensation higher than usual?
South West Water is paying more than the legal minimum to show goodwill and to make up for the serious disruption caused by the outage.
What should I do if my water is still discoloured?
Run your cold kitchen tap for a few minutes. The water should clear soon, as this is normal after an outage.
