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| Why is sewage pumped into rivers and the sea? | Why is sewage pumped into rivers and the sea? |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| The UK's six biggest water firms are facing legal action over claims they underreported pollution and overcharged customers - which the trade body Water UK denies. | |
| A number of water firms have been widely criticised over raw sewage discharges. | A number of water firms have been widely criticised over raw sewage discharges. |
| The UK's largest water company, Thames Water, has been fined £3.3m for pumping millions of litres of raw sewage into two rivers in 2017. | |
| Why is sewage pumped into the sea and rivers? | Why is sewage pumped 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. |
| Usually, all the waste is carried to a sewage treatment works. | Usually, all the waste is carried to a sewage treatment works. |
| But the Environment Agency (EA), which covers England, says capacity can sometimes be exceeded during heavy rainfall, especially when dry ground is unable to quickly absorb water. | But the Environment Agency (EA), which covers England, says capacity can sometimes be exceeded during heavy rainfall, especially when dry ground is unable to quickly absorb 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. |
| For this reason, the system is designed to overflow occasionally and discharge excess wastewater into the sea and rivers. | For this reason, the system is designed to overflow occasionally and discharge excess wastewater into the sea and rivers. |
| This practice is known as combined sewer overflows (CSOs) and is permitted. | This practice is known as combined sewer overflows (CSOs) and is permitted. |
| The EA requires water companies to monitor the overflows, and they can be investigated and fined if they fail to meet certain requirements. | The EA requires water companies to monitor the overflows, and they can be investigated and fined if they fail to meet certain requirements. |
| Sewage pollution alerts issued for almost 50 beaches | Sewage pollution alerts issued for almost 50 beaches |
| How often is sewage released? | How often is sewage released? |
| Data shows the use of overflows is not occasional, as it is meant to be. | Data shows the use of overflows is not occasional, as it is meant to be. |
| In 2022, raw sewage was pumped into rivers and seas for 1.75 million hours - an average of 825 times per day. | In 2022, raw sewage was pumped into rivers and seas for 1.75 million hours - an average of 825 times per day. |
| This is down 19% on the 2021 figures, because of drier weather putting less pressure on the system rather than water companies' action, according to the EA. | This is down 19% on the 2021 figures, because of drier weather putting less pressure on the system rather than water companies' action, according to the EA. |
| The volume of spills is unknown. | |
| In 2022, Ofwat, the water regulator for England and Wales, launched cases against six water companies over discharging sewage at times when this should not have happened. | In 2022, Ofwat, the water regulator for England and Wales, launched cases against six water companies over discharging sewage at times when this should not have happened. |
| Fight for money back over sewage leaks begins | |
| Which firms have been fined over sewage discharges? | Which firms have been fined over sewage discharges? |
| In July 2023, Thames Water was fined £3.3m for releasing raw sewage into Gatwick Stream in Sussex and River Mole in Surrey in 2017. | In July 2023, Thames Water was fined £3.3m for releasing raw sewage into Gatwick Stream in Sussex and River Mole in Surrey in 2017. |
| The discharges killed more than 1,400 fish. | The discharges killed more than 1,400 fish. |
| Some of the fish thought to have died as a result of the discharges | Some of the fish thought to have died as a result of the discharges |
| The company was previously fined a then-record £20m in 2017 for pumping 1.9 billion litres of untreated sewage into the River Thames in 2013 and 2014. | The company was previously fined a then-record £20m in 2017 for pumping 1.9 billion litres of untreated sewage into the River Thames in 2013 and 2014. |
| Chief executive Sarah Bentley has resigned after giving up her bonus because of the company's poor performance on sewage. | Chief executive Sarah Bentley has resigned after giving up her bonus because of the company's poor performance on sewage. |
| In July 2021, Southern Water was fined £90m for almost 7,000 illegal spills from 17 sites in Hampshire, Kent and West Sussex between 2010 and 2015. It is the largest penalty issued due to sewage discharge. | In July 2021, Southern Water was fined £90m for almost 7,000 illegal spills from 17 sites in Hampshire, Kent and West Sussex between 2010 and 2015. It is the largest penalty issued due to sewage discharge. |
| What is the government doing to tackle the problem? | What is the government doing to tackle the problem? |
| In April, the government announced its new plan to improve water quality. | In April, the government announced its new plan to improve water quality. |
| As part of this plan, it said polluters could face unlimited fines in the future. This was confirmed in July. | |
| The government says penalties from water companies will be re-invested into a new Water Restoration Fund which aims to improve water quality. | |
| But the environment secretary Therese Coffey admitted there was "no way we can stop pollution overnight", given the major changes needed to the water system. | |
| She warned that building more infrastructure such as super sewers could add "hundreds to people's bills". The Times reported that bills could increase by as much as 40% by the end of the decade. | She warned that building more infrastructure such as super sewers could add "hundreds to people's bills". The Times reported that bills could increase by as much as 40% by the end of the decade. |
| Under the 2022 Storms Overflows Discharge Reduction Plan, water companies must "improve all storm overflows discharging into or near every designated bathing water" by 2035. | Under the 2022 Storms Overflows Discharge Reduction Plan, water companies must "improve all storm overflows discharging into or near every designated bathing water" by 2035. |
| Water companies have promised to spend £10bn by 2030 upgrading storm overflow systems to help cut sewage spills by up to 35%. This has been cautiously welcomed by some campaigners, but others say firms should not shift the costs to consumers through higher bills while they are still paying out money to shareholders. | |
| In 2021, Conservative MPs were criticised after 256 voted to reject a proposal by the House of Lords to require water companies to reduce sewage discharges. They argued safeguards already existed and that new measures would cost billions. | |
| How can I know if the sea is clean? | How can I know if the sea is clean? |
| The Environment Agency monitors pollution across England. It says that between May and September, "weekly assessments measure current water quality, and at a number of sites daily pollution risk forecasts are issued". You can search its website by location. | The Environment Agency monitors pollution across England. It says that between May and September, "weekly assessments measure current water quality, and at a number of sites daily pollution risk forecasts are issued". 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. | There are similar websites where you can find out about beaches and bathing water in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. |
| Campaign group Surfers Against Sewage has created an interactive map showing pollution risk warnings along the coast and rivers. | Campaign group Surfers Against Sewage has created an interactive map showing pollution risk warnings along the coast and rivers. |
| What are the health risks? | What are the health risks? |
| Swimmers are warned to stay away when untreated sewage is discharged into the sea. | Swimmers are warned to stay away when untreated sewage is discharged into the sea. |
| The contaminated water could lead to serious illnesses. | The contaminated water could lead to serious illnesses. |
| Risks include gastrointestinal illnesses, or stomach bugs, which may cause diarrhoea and/or vomiting, as well as respiratory, skin, ear and eye infections. | Risks include gastrointestinal illnesses, or stomach bugs, which may cause diarrhoea and/or vomiting, as well as respiratory, skin, ear and eye infections. |
| Last year people were advised not to swim at Weston-super-Mare and other nearby beaches | Last year people were advised not to swim at Weston-super-Mare and other nearby beaches |
| Is Brexit to blame? | Is Brexit to blame? |
| Last year three French members of the European Parliament said they had written to the European Commission, asking it to take action to stop the UK from polluting the Channel and the North Sea. | Last year three French members of the European Parliament said they had written to the European Commission, asking it to take action to stop the UK from polluting the Channel and the North Sea. |
| Since Brexit, they said, the UK "has chosen to lower its water quality standards". | Since Brexit, they said, the UK "has chosen to lower its water quality standards". |
| The UK is no longer bound by EU environmental laws. But those laws were not directly regulating the frequency or number of sewage discharges. | The UK is no longer bound by EU environmental laws. But those laws were not directly regulating the frequency or number of sewage discharges. |
| According to Friends of the Earth, the UK's Environment Act 2021 - which replaced the EU laws - brought "some useful changes" which included "efforts to stop companies filling our waterways with sewage". | According to Friends of the Earth, the UK's Environment Act 2021 - which replaced the EU laws - brought "some useful changes" which included "efforts to stop companies filling our waterways with sewage". |
| How clean are UK waters? | How clean are UK waters? |
| Sewage spills have only been routinely monitored for a few years, so it is difficult to tell how they have changed over time. | Sewage spills have only been routinely monitored for a few years, so it is difficult to tell 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. | |
| The Environment Agency says in England 16% of surface waters achieved "good" ecological status, including: | The Environment Agency says in England 16% of surface waters achieved "good" ecological status, including: |
| 14% of rivers and lakes | 14% of rivers and lakes |
| 19% of estuaries | 19% of estuaries |
| 45% of coastal waters | 45% of coastal waters |
| 93% of designated bathing waters | 93% of designated bathing waters |
| Water quality is generally higher in other parts of the UK. | Water quality is generally higher in other parts of the UK. |
| In Scotland, 63% of surface waters are classed as having "good" ecological status. | In Scotland, 63% of surface waters are classed as having "good" ecological status. |
| In Wales this is 40%, and in Northern Ireland 31%. | In Wales this is 40%, and in Northern Ireland 31%. |
| How clean are the UK's rivers and lakes? | How clean are the UK's rivers and lakes? |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Sewage | Sewage |
| Thames Water | Thames Water |