South West Water's work to protect the Fowey Estuary and tackle hidden sources of pollution across the South West has been recognised with two industry award nominations.
Misconnections are one of the most difficult sources of pollution to identify and tackle. A hidden cause of pollution, misconnections occur when wastewater from a property is incorrectly connected to a surface water drain instead of the sewer network, meaning wastewater can enter rivers and streams without being treated.
Often hidden underground and on customer properties, they can be difficult to identify and resolve. To help tackle this issue, South West Water has been working with specialist environmental company, Glanville Environmental, to identify, investigate and tackle misconnections across the region.
The companies have been shortlisted for a UKSTT Award for a project it carried out in the Fowey Estuary in 2025.
The project used innovative inspection and surveying techniques, including drone technology and specialist underwater investigations, to identify where groundwater and surface water were entering the sewer network in Fowey and where improvements could be made to protect the local environment.
In addition, throughout 2025 and 2026, South West Water and Glanville’s teams investigated hundreds of properties across the South West through its misconnections programme, helping to identify hidden sources of pollution and working with customers to resolve them.
In recognition of its success, the joint initiative has received a Green Apple Environment Award 2026 for Environmental Improvement, an international award recognising environmental best practice.
It has also been shortlisted for a UK Society for Trenchless Technology (UKSTT) Award, which celebrates innovation and excellence in engineering and infrastructure projects.
Dave Swiggs, South West Water’s Director of Wastewater Services, said:
"We're so proud to see the hard work we’ve done with our partners at Glanville Environmental to tackle misconnections recognised at the Green Apple Environment Awards and the UKSTT Awards. "Protecting and improving the health of our rivers, streams and coastal waters is a key priority for South West Water, and these projects demonstrate the positive impact that targeted investment and partnership working can deliver to local communities like Fowey.”
James West, Operations Director at Glanville Environmental, said:
"We are proud to have worked alongside South West Water on these award-recognised projects. “By combining specialist investigation, surveying, and environmental expertise, we have helped identify hidden sources of pollution and deliver practical improvements that protect the region’s rivers, streams, and coastal waters. These achievements are a testament to the strong partnership between our teams and our shared commitment to environmental excellence."
The winners of the UKSTT Awards will be announced at a special ceremony on Wednesday, 30 September at the NAEC Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire. For more information about how South West Water tackles misconnections visit Misconnections at South West Water.