Contact Details
Head Office:
Peninsula House
Rydon Lane
Exeter
EX2 7HR
Address:
Customer Accounts South West Water
PO Box 4
Exeter
EX2 7HS
Contact Information
- Head Office 0139 243 3966
- Fax 0139 243 4966
- Minicom 0800 169 9965
- Email customercontact@southwestwater.co.uk
- Website South West Water
- Water and Sewerage Services 0800 169 1144
- Account Queries 0800 169 1133
- Meter Information 0800 083 4301
- Direct Debit setup 0800 083 2365
- Leave a meter reading 0800 083 4247
- Pollution Hotline 0800 146 084
- Water Conservation Hotline 0800 378 937
- Emergency 0800 169 1144
Customer services are open from 8am - 7pm on Monday to Friday and 8am - 1pm on Saturday.
General Information
South West Water provide water and sewerage services to Devon, Cornwall, and small parts of Dorset and Somerset, covering an area of approximately 4,300 square miles, serving around 1.6 million residents. 100 million gallons of litre is supplied through 10,000 miles of water mains to domestic and commercial customers each and every day.
As well as supplying water South West Water also deal with the removal and treatment of sewerage. There are over 5,500 miles of public sewers through the region which over 60 million gallons of waste water are channelled before being treated at any one of their 600 waste water treatment works.
- South West Water provides both water and sewerage services.
- South West Water is a soft water area.
- 164,957 tests were carried out on samples taken by South West Water Limited in 2003 and 99.92% of these tests complied with the Regulations set by OFWAT.
Customer Services
South West Water offer Guaranteed Standards of Service which they aim to satisfy on a daily basis. These include such aspects as response times to queries and notice given for interruption of service. If these standards have not been met then customers might be eligible for compensation. For more information contact South West Water on 0800 169 1133.
Comments
NB: We have no connection with the water companies, if you have a specific enquiry relating to your service, please contact the company direct.
Moved from Oxfordshire where we paid £30 per month - now live in identical property in Devon and now pay £133 per month!!?! And to the snotty people who says move if you don't like it... we are - enjoy your rip off water bills!
Posted by Anon, 12th November 2008I agree wholeheartedly with many of the comments regarding the unacceptable pricing of water here in the South West. There is no justification in being charged more for water and sewerage than anywhere else in the country. Does SWW think that the people living here are wealthier than everyone else in the country, they obviously do, and our politicians aren't bothered about these charges as i can attest to through attempting to get some remedy from my own MP in Exeter. EU beach and water purity cleanup legislation should not penalise the people of the South West. It should be a fairly distributed cost throughout the UK as a whole.
Posted by Anthony Stancliffe, 30th October 2008The only relief for my wife and I is that as we are on a water meter and are careful with our water we pay £26 a month which still leaves a slight credit each year, and we live in a house with a large garden, albeit I use no garden hose, just two very large water butts to water the garden.
Seems everyone is getting into debt with there water at the moment, well not to seem like a complete ass but perhaps if you kept on top of it in the first place and kept in contact with the supplier when you felt something was wrong maybe you wouldn't be in all this mess. It has happened to me so be crafty, it works. It's fair to say though that most suppliers put their extras on top and almost all of the time it's a stupid amount considering they're doing it to everyone, and their profit must be huge, but there payments rise to. I had a problem where my supplier was charging a sky high amount of money for my water but I knew I wasn't using that much so to test it I shut the water off in my house, went and moved back in with my parents for that week and just waited to see what would happen. Well turns out that even though I hadn't even used any water they were still charging a lot of money. The people on the other end of the phone TOLD me that I was using the water!! so I told them what I had done said I had them red handed. Needless to say it was sorted out that day turns out someone working for them had no idea what they where doing and they had put me on some sky high rate as if I owned a garden centre or an olympic swimming pool!
Posted by Emma Jones , 15th September 2008So I suggest to people who feel they are paying to much for there water to go back to your supplier and question it and if that means you being kept waiting on the phone all day to get it sorted, trust me it's worth it
"Bottles water is cheaper"
Posted by Anon, 13th September 2008All legitimate criticism aside, if you were to buy bottled water (Buxton for example, 2l) instead of out of the tap, your yearly bill would be about £30,000 based on what most of you have said. My bills are too high but you undermine yours and everyone else's arguments when you say things that are so blatantly incorrect.
I think south west water are a fab company. I have never had a problem with them. So friendly every time you call, and you know they are also local and know the area. 5 stars for the friendly people on the help lines : )
Posted by Jenna, 13th September 2008Just received a quarterly bill from SWW... £521! Estimated that I used 128 cubic metres of water in 3 months. Canned them up with my reading (18 cubic metres) and they reduced the bill immediately. It's absolutely shocking that they would predict that me and my girlfriend would use 128 c/m2 of water in a 2 bed apartment. We only shower and use the washing machine.
Posted by Anthony Booker, 02nd September 2008Last Wednesday the water board came to the front of my home to do some thing or other. Anyway they dug a big pit and went leaving the water running away down the street. Yesterday they came back and dug a pit again and went again and the water is still running away down the street by the gallon. And tonight yes you have guessed right the water is still running away. This happened last year as well and it was like that for 5 whole days.
Posted by Dorothy Maat-davey, 08th May 2008Each time I get a bill it seems my standing order (yes, a standing order, at least I can turn off the supply when I fancy it) is insufficient and the debt will never clear even with an increase. Faced with a red bill and threats last year I made a large payment to reduce the debt. Seems it continues to escalate, just like everyone else's. What I wonder is Ofwat supposed to be doing about all this. It is way way beyond a joke. Anyone have any ideas on how we should mobilise against this regime in order to make our point and have these matters addressed? I will look here again soon to see if any suggestions are forthcoming.
Posted by Laurence Halliwell, 07th May 2008Privatisation of our most basic of needs for survival is a crime against humanity. Thatcher has enabled other countries to own our water and sold our people down the drain. The British Government had no right to sell us out and today we suffer the consequences of their eternal thirst for wealth, irrespective of the consequences to our health.
Posted by Andrew K Fletcher, 02nd May 2008A company that poisoned the people of Camelford in Cornwall with the equivalent of pouring rat poison into the domestic water supply and failing to warn the people on the receiving end, who now suffer serious health problems because of it, should be deemed unfit to ever run another utility company!
A country that is impregnated by water, has rivers and streams running throughout like the veins in our arms, gets deluged by rainfall that is legendary throughout the world. Has lakes a reservoirs, ponds and canals, marshes and swamps coupled with shot summers and long winters suffers from hosepipe bans with helicopters that cost a fortune flying over residential areas looking for green lawns in drought conditions - something is seriously incompetently wrong with the way our water is managed!
Someone mentioned you should try living in the developing world if you think this is bad. In South America, Africa, Pakistan and many other countries, the Privatisation of water scam has been adopted. Now some of the poorest people in the world no longer have water to bath their children, while greedy inhumane privatised cartels/companies provide those that can afford it with copious amounts of water that once quenched the thirst of those that eat dust for dinner. Shame on you!
I have recently moved to Devon from London and just received my first quarterly water bill for 285.00! At first I thought I was hallucinating, surely I must have a leak somewhere?? Checked and double checked but sadly I hadn't, cant believe it can be so much, we shower, wash dishes and use the washing machine like everyone else so where's this massive bill come from? It's only me and the two kids and they hardly ever wash! It's madness...
Posted by Fiona Wright, 15th April 2008It's a shame that this site does not have any link to the water companies, South West Water should hang their heads in shame. Why do South West Water assume that ever drop of water that comes into your house is also processed through to sewage, therefore their is no financial gain from reusing your water for the garden etc. Isn't it about time sewage was calculated accurately, and therefore customers could have a way of reducing their bills and encourage more to do the environmentally friendly thing? If they can count how much water comes in, then why cant the count what goes out?
Posted by Gill Hollingsworth, 12th April 2008What a rude and condescending operator on the so-called customer services hepline! Why does the head office telephone number listed above not receive incoming calls?
Posted by Mike Pim-keirle, 07th April 2008We are the poorest paid in the west country yet pay the highest water bills. What can anyone do? We have no choice but just to pay up. Relatives in other parts of the country pay much less than we do how can this be fair? I am always trying different ways to cut down on water. Perhaps the companies should be providing us with ways of recycling grey water etc. I am even looking at ways of using rainwater to flush the loo!
Posted by Tanya Kingsand, 27th March 2008Fed up and broke!!!
I thought it was just little me that SWW were bullying into paying an outrageous £50 month for a single tenant flat? I'm more at work than I am at home. Now I see we're all been ripped off... WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT THIS? It's a crime!
Posted by Jools, 26th March 2008Stop moaning about your bills, try living in a third world country where water isn't on tap.
Posted by Chris Witty, 26th March 2008Just received my bill for this year. My water rates are £982.00 for this coming year! My next door neighbour pays a 150 less. I am paying 150 more for SEWAGE and there are 2 people in my house and 5 in his. Does anybody else think that SWW are joking? What are we going to do about this blatant rip off for people in Cornwall?
Posted by Patricia Young, 13th March 2008I am an ordinary working person who lives with his partner in a small, two bed-roomed house. No matter what I pay SWW, I always receive a bill saying I owe them more. I increase my monthly payment and I am still behind! They confuse and confound me with their water meters and billing system and I don't know what to to... They want the shirt off my back...
Posted by Elbert Oohms, 08th March 2008Genuinely confused by some of these comments. Yes SW Water is hugely expensive, but with two in the house, showering every day with a powerful shower, watering the garden in summer etc. we use under £30 per month (between 6 and 7 cubic metres). It's easy to read your meter, and easy to check whether it's accurate and whether you have a leak - turn everything off for an hour and see if the numbers move!
Posted by Steve Milesworthy, 05th March 2008What a rip off! Over £500 per annum, two occupants, no dishwasher, no hose pipe. Welcome to the West Country. Can't complain enough.
Posted by Katie Young, 29th February 2008At the end of the day if you cannot afford the water - either sell your second home or MOVE!
Posted by Anon, 23rd February 2008All I can say is what a rip off, £85 a month is highway robbery.
Posted by Daniel Balment, 24th January 2008I am so in debt with my water as I am one of Cornwall's Poor,
Posted by Mark, 24th December 2007This year I have asked my relatives to give me money instead of presents to pay the water DEBT, just to stop the water board from threatening me with COURT action. But I DOUBT the water board will give a toss. And that famous saying for the love of money is the root of all evil. Timothy, 6:10 is true. The rich get richer and the poor get poorer.
Just received a quarterly bill for £167 for the two of us in a flat (no garden etc.), thought that was wrong, had a quick look on here and I see ours is relatively cheap compared to many.
Posted by Jennie Butterworth, 30th November 2007I have a restaurant and three flats in Torquay. A year ago I separated the three flats from the restaurant to make it cheaper for the tenants and myself; by doing this it made no difference to my water charges but just gave sww more revenue.
Posted by Terry John Barnard, 25th November 2007Thank you for providing this information service and forum. I was searching on behalf of my elderly and frail parents who live in Devon and were extremely worried about a sudden massive rise in their direct debit, now I have seen these comments at least I can reassure them it's not something they have done wrong, as well as try to find measures of saving more water such as push down automatic shut off taps, as elderly people often have difficulty shutting of taps or not realising they are still trickling.
Posted by Jessica Bardzil, 17th October 2007It is appalling how much people have ot pay for services supplied by SWW. They have a monopoly and pass on thier inefficiencies to the end customer. Its about time they were held to account for their poor management, they need to start treating as as "customers" and not "blank cheques".
Posted by Gordon, 04th October 2007How about starting a petition on the Government website asking that regional water companies are audited to ensure value for money is being provided to their customers?
Am I dreaming? A relative of mine has moved to Devon and has been informed the water and sewage rates are £1250
Posted by John Stewart Wood, 28th September 2007per annum. Legalised daylight robbery, but how soon will the rest of the UK water authorities follow up with similar charges?
I pay £65 a month for two of us. I don't use a hosepipe, am careful with the washing machine and have water saving devices in the toilet. I would much rather not have a water meter as it would be cheaper for me but there's nothing that can be done about that! I think it's a disgrace that we are continually ripped off like this, more and more every year!
Posted by C Manning, 17th September 2007£866 per year for three of us who are out most of the time! The only other things SWW increase at such a rate are shareholders bonuses and profits. Customer service is appalling and SWW performance even worse.
Posted by Andrew Boultby, 15th September 2007Here's a tip - don't pay until they offer Watercare service. They send round an engineer and look at your water usage, for instance taps, shower timers, and more economical flush all for free!
Posted by Mark D'acy, 11th September 2007But here's the good bit - for every pound you pay off debt they will match for three months, then for every pound you pay they pay 2 for 2 months, and then they will pay £2.50 for every pound you pay!!!!
I think it's disgusting how much the water costs!!! I'm scared to flush the toilet because I don't know if I'm going to be able to afford the bill next month. There are 2 of us living in a flat and our bill has just come in at £187. How this is possible I do not know, as after the last bill we cut back on every thing!
Posted by Alastair Lamont, 07th September 2007And then to top it off, this quarter's bill is a massive £70 more than the last one. Something has to be done. There must be some way of putting a stop to the hard working people of Devon being ripped off! Charge the holiday makers, they litter and ruin the countryside, and then leave us with massive water bills. We get paid lower than any one in the country and yet our bills are more than any where else.
Well the way South West Water get away with putting prices up each year, it would be cheaper to go to Tesco and buy bottled water to drink and cook with, tub in garden to wash in (or go to the beach). There needs to be a stop to this! My d/d has doubled in two years but the water use is still the same, please look in to this someone!?! WE CAN USE DIFFERENT GAS AND ELECTRIC SUPPLIERS, WHY NOT WATER !?!
Posted by D Squire, 19th August 2007Having just received yet another water bill for £250 for the quarter I was seriously thinking of getting my meter checked. However on seeing the other comments it would appear that my bill is normal!!!! There are only two people in the house - ouch!
Posted by Helen Mccartney, 07th August 2007SWW have the most overpriced water rates ever!I paid £450 last quarter and there's only two of us living there! How ridiculous!!!!!
Posted by Wayne Sampson, 27th July 2007Gordon please help us!!!
My son lives alone in a small flat and pays an assessed charge because a meter can't be installed. He still has to pay £34 a month!
Posted by S. Berry , 21st July 2007Ridiculous, unfair and unjustified. I agree with others that there should be some sort of charge to holiday makers. I know we need their custom but we have to survive too.
Have a water leak after having a meter fitted. Phoned 4 times before any response from anyone, they then say they don't know when they will come and fix the leak. Very poor service! Why do we have to pay so much money to this incompetent company? 5 stars for the poor service (what service?!)
Posted by Graeme Ross, 20th July 2007Horrified at bill of £215.00 for 3 months. Only 2 of us living in the house. Most of this is due to exorbitant sewerage charge of £2.69 per cubic metre. My sister in Surrey pays under 50p per cubic metre. Much as I love our coastline and beaches, this is not acceptable. I know have to think twice before running a bath or doing the washing; not a comfortable way to live. Sort it out SWW!
Posted by Patricia Taylor, 03rd July 2007It shouldn't be allowed. South West Water are ruining the lives of all the poor people who live in Devon and Cornwall. If Tourists enjoy the Beaches of Devon and Cornwall, perhaps they should be levied a small charge. My family and I have been charged £458 so far this year on our Metered Cost out-law Meters. We use water reasonably, only my youngest son gets a shower each day, the rest of us just can't shower or bath, it would be £400 a quarter.
Posted by William Barry Rowse , 03rd July 2007South West Water, the highest water rates in the country and the lowest paid wages in the country. I am now paying £67 per month for my water !!!!! Ridiculous.
Posted by Jean Davey, 02nd July 2007It's about time something was done about it.
Another bill, another price rise. Have lived in the same house for 15 years, and my consumption (metered) has been roughly the same every year. I used to pay £16 a month by Direct Debit, now £45 a month just covers it.
Posted by Excessively Overpriced, 14th June 2007My water bills were a lot cheaper in London and my salary was double! You've certainly got in wrong in the South West...
Posted by Julie Austen, 14th June 2007Phoning on behalf of daughter in N Devon.Why put head office phone number on your site as it does not take incoming calls?
Posted by J Flor, 08th June 2007I put in an order to Blackwall for a water butt in mid March and despite numerous promises I am still waiting. It seems that everything was mislaid and order not actioned until the 25th May. Not happy with the service.
Posted by Tony Richards, 07th June 2007Wasted a day off work unpaid may I add, waiting for an engineer to find out why I'm paying 200.00 pounds every 3 months for water when there is only 2 of us in the house! Would be cheaper to buy bottled water! Would be cheaper to live elsewhere!
Posted by Jamie Stiff, 05th June 2007Wasted a day off work unpaid may i add, waiting for an engineer to find out why im paying 200.00 pounds every 3 months for water???? When there is only 2 of us in the house!!!!! Would be cheaper to buy bottled water!!! Would be cheaper to live elsewhere!!! Rubbish service 5 stars for that!!!!!!!!!
Posted by Jamie Stiff, 05th June 2007To Southwest water S don't you think us that live in Southwest are now paying too much? It's time that the people that come into Devon and Southwest were charged, it's them that use our beaches not us poor people in Devon that have really put up with this for far too long. Soon you will come unstuck and Southwest people will stand up for their rights. We have had it with Southwest water charges, 45 pound a month living on my own. I think its all unfair, will be cheaper to buy bottled water soon. Southwest water you should look after you own people in the Southwest and charge a holiday maker fee not take the mick out of us in the Southwest
Posted by Mr Don Priscott, 15th May 2007I am a council tenant and I have now had a leak in my garden since JANUARY. I am still waiting for south west water to fix the valve on the mains stop cock so that my water can be turned off and the leak can be fixed. A substantial amount of water is being wasted every day. I have even dug channels myself to direct the water away from trees that are suffering. I am on my second hallway carpet since moving in in October 2006. No, I haven't paid my bill!!
Posted by Suzy Callaghan, 25th April 2007