SOUTH West Water (SWW) plans to nearly double its investment in the environment to £2.5 billion over the next five years, the Environment Agency (EA) has said.

The EA has secured what it described as the ‘largest ever commitment’ from water companies to clean up the environment and invest in new infrastructure since privatisation.

SWW will spend £764 million to reduce storm overflow spills; £150 million to prevent nutrient pollution; £3 million to improve biodiversity and conservation and £2 million to meet Water Framework Directive requirements.

The Water Industry National Environment Programme (WINEP), which sets out more than 24,000 actions water companies must take over the next five years to meet their legal requirements for the environment, also stipulates SWW reduce pollution incidents by 30 percent.

The agreed actions will lead to improvements in water infrastructure to secure future supply, habitats and biodiversity and drinking water quality, the EA say.

South West Water, for example, will install biosecurity measures at 12 recreational activity sites.

This includes washdown facilities for boats, boot scrubs, drying racks and a raised awareness of the importance to ‘Check, Clean, Dry’, to limit the impact of invasive non-native species on recreational activities, sports and water supply operations.

The EA said work would include SWW reducing the amount of water taken from the River Camel in Cornwall.

Alan Lovell, Chairman of the Environment Agency, said: ‘This unprecedented level of investment represents a vital step forward towards ensuring we have clean, safe, and abundant water now and for future generations.

‘Working with the water companies on this £22bn programme is a crucial way to realise the government’s goals of stimulating development and boosting economic growth, while ensuring the sector can meet its ambitious environment commitments.

‘We will work closely with Defra, Ofwat and other regulators to monitor water company progress and ensure they deliver what has been promised.

‘If water companies fail to carry out their legal obligations to the environment, we will take action.’