Getty ImagesWater companies spilled raw sewage into England’s rivers and seas for a record 3.6 million hours in 2024, according to Environment Agency figures.
Limited amounts of sewage are allowed to be discharged during periods of excess rain, but environmental groups say the levels pose a threat to wildlife and risk swimmers’ health.
A major report by the Independent Water Commission has proposed changes to regulation and monitoring of sewage spills, alongside tougher penalties.
How much sewage is released into the seas and rivers in England?
The 3.6 million hours of sewage spills into England’s lakes, rivers and seas in 2024 was a slight increase on 2023.
However, the Environment Agency said the total number of spills was down, meaning each spill lastest longer on average.
In July, separate data from the Environment Agency showed that pollution incidents by water companies – from spilled sewage and other contaminants – hit record levels in 2024.
Of these, 75 were serious incidents – where there is threat to aquatic and human health. Thames Water was responsible for 33.
Water UK, the industry body for sewerage companies, has said that spills are “unacceptable”, but that it has a plan “to end water sewage flowing into all waterways”, with significant infrastructure upgrades.
In Wales, the number of hours of spills was down 11% in 2024, but pollution incidents hit a 10-year high.
Northern Ireland does not currently monitor real-time spills.
Scotland only collects data from 27% of spill sites.
Why is sewage released into the sea and rivers?
Most of the UK has a combined sewerage system, meaning that both rainwater and wastewater – from toilets, bathrooms and kitchens – are carried in the same pipes.
Wastewater is usually sent to a sewage treatment works.
But capacity can sometimes be exceeded during heavy rainfall, especially if dry ground cannot absorb large quantities of water.
This could lead to inundation of sewage works and potential flooding of homes, roads and open spaces.
The system is therefore designed to overflow occasionally, and discharge excess wastewater into the sea and rivers from combined sewer overflows.
What is a dry spill?
According to industry regulator Ofwat, some water companies have been “routinely releasing sewage” outside times of heavy downpours, in breach of their permits. This is known as dry spilling.
Ofwat said this is a result of companies failing to manage their wastewater treatment plants, leading to sewage overflowing into rivers and lakes before being treated.
The BBC uncovered 6,000 potential dry spills by England’s water companies in 2022.
Even if it is raining, water company permits also require them to treat a minimum amount of sewage before releasing it.
What is being done to tackle sewage discharges?
Ageing infrastructure has been identified by the industry, government and campaigners as one of the main reasons for sewage spills.
At the end of last year Ofwat agreed that water companies in England and Wales would spend a total £104bn over the next five years to make upgrades as well as secure water supplies. Of that, £20bn would specifically go to tackling sewage spills.
Water UK, the industry body, said it would be the “most ambitious modernisation of sewers since the Victorian era”.
But there has been criticism from environmental campaigners that customers’ bills have had to rise significantly, whilst water companies continue to pay out dividends to shareholders.
The Water Commission, headed by former deputy chair of the Bank of England Sir Jon Cunliffe, has put forward 88 recommendations for reforms.
They include:
- A new water strategy for England and Wales
- Scrapping Ofwat
- Introducing mandatory smart meters, to reduce demand and help cut costs for the poorest households
- An end to water companies monitoring their own pollution and stricter penalties
What are the health risks of swimming in polluted water?
Getty ImagesHow can I check if the sea near me is clean?
Every week between May and September, the Environment Agency measures the water quality at bathing sites across England, and in some places it issues daily pollution risk forecasts.
You can search its website by location. There are similar websites where you can find out about beaches and bathing water in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.
Water UK has launched the National Storm Overflow Hub where almost real-time discharges can be seen across all of England’s overflow points. This does not contain data on the volume of sewage discharge or the presence of organisms carrying faecal-oral disease in the water.
How clean are UK waters overall?
Sewage spills have only been routinely monitored for a few years, so it is difficult to tell exactly how they have changed over time.
However, overall water quality has been monitored for decades. This also accounts for other sources of pollution, such as agriculture.
In May 2023, the Environment Agency said that 16% of assessed surface waters in England achieved “good” ecological status, including:
- 14% of rivers and lakes
- 19% of estuaries
- 45% of coastal waters
- 93% of designated bathing waters
Water quality is generally higher in other parts of the UK.
In Scotland, around two-thirds of surface waters are classed as having “good” ecological status.
In Wales the figure is 40%, and in Northern Ireland 31%.
