Water and sewerage
South West Water
Supplies water and takes waste water across Cornwall and Devon and parts of Dorset and Somerset. It also trades as Bournemouth Water in the area around Bournemouth.
Setting the account up when you move in
- Tell South West Water the day your tenancy starts, so the bill is in your name from that date and not the last tenant's.
- If the property has a water meter, send an opening reading the day you move in. Photograph the whole display — that photograph is what settles a disputed opening bill.
- One bill normally covers both the water and the sewerage.
- There is nothing to compare and no supplier to switch to. What you can ask for is a meter, which changes how you are charged rather than who charges you.
Postcode areas South West Water may serve
Several of these are shared with another company. Open the postcode area to see who else supplies it.
A few useful answers
Common questions
Which areas does South West Water cover?
It may supply addresses in the BH, DT, EX, PL, TA, TQ, TR postcode areas. Several of those are shared with another company, so the postcode area page is the place to check yours.
Does South West Water take waste water away as well?
Yes. South West Water is a water and sewerage company, so one bill usually covers both. In parts of its region the drinking water comes from a separate water-only company.
How do I complain about South West Water?
Raise it with the company first. If that does not settle it, the Consumer Council for Water takes it up on your behalf, free of charge.
Where to confirm this
We hold the supplier at postcode-area level, which is coarse enough to be wrong at a boundary. These are the industry's own sources, and they settle it for a specific address.
- Water UK: find your supplier ↗
- the Consumer Council for Water: complaints and advice ↗
- Discover Water: bills by company ↗Sector average £639 a year for 2026–27.
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