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| How much raw sewage is released into rivers and the sea, and what are the rules? | How much raw sewage is released into rivers and the sea, and what are the rules? |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| Every major English water company has reported data suggesting they've discharged raw sewage when the weather is dry - a practice which is potentially illegal. | |
| Water companies can release untreated sewage into rivers and seas when it rains to prevent it flooding homes, but such spills are illegal when it's dry. | |
| On dry days there is less dilution and sewage can cause more damage to the local environment and pose a health risk to swimmers. | |
| How much sewage is released into the sea and rivers in England? | How much sewage is released into the sea and rivers in England? |
| Sewage spills into England's rivers and seas by water companies more than doubled in 2023. | Sewage spills into England's rivers and seas by water companies more than doubled in 2023. |
| According to the Environment Agency, there were 3.6 million hours of spills, compared to 1.75 million hours in 2022. | According to the Environment Agency, there were 3.6 million hours of spills, compared to 1.75 million hours in 2022. |
| Water UK, the industry body for sewerage companies, said this was "unacceptable", but argued that the record levels were due to heavy rain and increased data collection. | Water UK, the industry body for sewerage companies, said this was "unacceptable", but argued that the record levels were due to heavy rain and increased data collection. |
| However, the Environment Agency said that increased rainfall does not override water companies' responsibility "to manage storm overflows in line with legal requirements". | However, the Environment Agency said that increased rainfall does not override water companies' responsibility "to manage storm overflows in line with legal requirements". |
| Some environmental charities blame water companies for a failure to fix leaky pipes and other damaged infrastructure - and criticise the regulator for not forcing them to act. | Some environmental charities blame water companies for a failure to fix leaky pipes and other damaged infrastructure - and criticise the regulator for not forcing them to act. |
| Why is sewage released into the sea and rivers? | 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. | 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. | Wastewater is usually sent to a sewage treatment works. |
| But capacity can sometimes be exceeded during heavy rainfall, especially if dry ground cannot quickly absorb large quantities of water. | But capacity can sometimes be exceeded during heavy rainfall, especially if dry ground cannot quickly absorb large quantities of water. |
| This could lead to inundation of sewage works and potential flooding of homes, roads and open spaces. | 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. | The system is therefore designed to overflow occasionally, and discharge excess wastewater into the sea and rivers. |
| This is called combined sewer overflows , external(CSOs). | This is called combined sewer overflows , external(CSOs). |
| However, according to the BBC there is evidence that some water companies are potentially spilling sewage when it is not raining. | |
| Without rainwater to dilute the waste, this can lead to higher concentrations of sewage entering waterways - and is therefore illegal. | Without rainwater to dilute the waste, this can lead to higher concentrations of sewage entering waterways - and is therefore illegal. |
| The BBC has examined spill data sent by the nine sewage companies from 2022 to the Environment Agency and cross-referenced it with rainwater. The results of the BBC's analysis suggest there may have been dry spills starting on more than 200 days in 2022 lasting over 29,000 hours - including during the record summer heatwave when people were cooling off in England's rivers and seas. | |
| To confirm this has happened the Environment Agency says they carry out further checks and visit the sites where the spills may have taken place. | |
| The BBC also found that untreated sewage was illegally released into Lake Windermere in the Lake District in February 2024 after a fault. | The BBC also found that untreated sewage was illegally released into Lake Windermere in the Lake District in February 2024 after a fault. |
| Water companies which are found to have breached the rules by spilling on dry days or failing to meet other conditions can be fined or prosecuted. | Water companies which are found to have breached the rules by spilling on dry days or failing to meet other conditions can be fined or prosecuted. |
| What is being done to tackle sewage discharges? | |
| In April 2023 the Conservative government announced a plan, external to improve water quality. | |
| As part of this, it said polluters could face unlimited fines in the future, external which would be re-invested into a new Water Restoration Fund which aims to improve water quality. | |
| Six months later Water UK, the industry body, announced plans on behalf of its members to almost double spending to pay for upgrades and cut sewage discharges. | |
| It said this would be the "most ambitious modernisation of sewers since the Victorian era", but that customer bills would have to rise by £156 a year to cover the cost. | It said this would be the "most ambitious modernisation of sewers since the Victorian era", but that customer bills would have to rise by £156 a year to cover the cost. |
| This week the UK's political parties released their manifestos including their proposals for the sewage industry. | |
| Steve Reed, Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs told the BBC that a Labour government would "put the water companies under special measures to force them to clean up their act". | |
| "We will give the regulator tough new powers to make law-breaking water bosses face criminal charges and ban the payment of their multi-million pound bonuses until they clean up their toxic filth," he added. | |
| The Liberal Democrats have said they will introduce a sewage tax on water company targets and set legally binding targets to prevent sewage dumping bathing waters and "highly sensitive nature sites by 2030". | |
| Sian Berry, parliamentary candidate for the Green Party told the BBC: "Private water companies have failed to invest, resulting in sewage leaks and run-off at record levels. It's made our coastlines and inland waterways filthy and unhealthy when they should be clean and safe." | |
| The BBC has approached Reform for comment on this issue. | |
| What are the health risks of swimming in polluted water? | What are the health risks of swimming in polluted water? |
| In May 2024, a team of the UK's top engineers and scientists warned of the growing public health risk from human faeces in the country's rivers, and called for more regular testing. | In May 2024, a team of the UK's top engineers and scientists warned of the growing public health risk from human faeces in the country's rivers, and called for more regular testing. |
| The presence of faeces can expose people to bacteria such as salmonella and E.coli, which cause diarrhoea and vomiting, or viruses like hepatitis A which can lead to liver infection. | The presence of faeces can expose people to bacteria such as salmonella and E.coli, which cause diarrhoea and vomiting, or viruses like hepatitis A which can lead to liver infection. |
| Rowers taking part in the 2024 Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race were told not to swallow any splashed water after E.coli was found | Rowers taking part in the 2024 Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race were told not to swallow any splashed water after E.coli was found |
| Rowers taking part in the 2024 Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race were told not to swallow any splashed water after E.coli was found | Rowers taking part in the 2024 Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race were told not to swallow any splashed water after E.coli was found |
| Also in May, thousands of residents in Devon were told to drink bottled water after their supply was contaminated with the cryptosporidium parasite - possibly as a result of a faulty valve on private land. Consumption of the parasite can cause prolonged diarrhoea. | Also in May, thousands of residents in Devon were told to drink bottled water after their supply was contaminated with the cryptosporidium parasite - possibly as a result of a faulty valve on private land. Consumption of the parasite can cause prolonged diarrhoea. |
| How can I check if the sea near me is clean? | How 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. | 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, external by location. There are similar websites, external where you can find out about beaches and bathing water in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. | You can search its website, external by location. There are similar websites, external where you can find out about beaches and bathing water in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. |
| But outside of these times and locations regularly testing for organisms carrying faecal-oral disease is not carried. | But outside of these times and locations regularly testing for organisms carrying faecal-oral disease is not carried. |
| By the end of this year all water companies are expected to have maps showing near real-time discharges at their storm overflows to keep the public better informed. | |
| How clean are UK waters overall? | How clean are UK waters overall? |
| Sewage spills have only been routinely monitored for a few years, external, so it is difficult to tell exactly how they have changed over time. | Sewage spills have only been routinely monitored for a few years, external, 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. | 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, external, including: | In May 2023, the Environment Agency said that 16% of assessed surface waters in England achieved "good" ecological status, external, including: |
| 14% of rivers and lakes | 14% of rivers and lakes |
| 14% of rivers and lakes | 14% of rivers and lakes |
| 19% of estuaries | 19% of estuaries |
| 19% of estuaries | 19% of estuaries |
| 45% of coastal waters | 45% of coastal waters |
| 45% of coastal waters | 45% of coastal waters |
| 93% of designated bathing waters | 93% of designated bathing waters |
| 93% of designated bathing waters | 93% of designated bathing waters |
| Water quality is generally higher in other parts of the UK, external. | Water quality is generally higher in other parts of the UK, external. |
| In Scotland, around two-thirds of surface waters are classed as having "good" ecological status. | 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%. | In Wales the figure is 40%, and in Northern Ireland 31%. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Sewage | Sewage |
| England | England |
| Thames Water | Thames Water |
| Environment Agency | Environment Agency |