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Sewage spills in England totalled 1.75 million hours in 2022 Sewage releases in England totalled 1.8 million hours in 2022
(about 1 hour later)
Campaigners say sewage overflows are discharging much too often Water flowing from a drain into a river
Water companies released raw sewage into rivers and seas in England for more than 1.75 million hours last year.Water companies released raw sewage into rivers and seas in England for more than 1.75 million hours last year.
The figures - an average of 824 spills per day - are down a third on the previous year, but the Environment Agency attributed the fall to dry weather, not water company action. The figures are down a third on the previous year, but the Environment Agency attributed the fall to dry weather, not water company action.
Sewage is released if there is too much demand on treatment works in rainy periods. It is a legitimate process. Companies release sewage when there is too much demand to their treatment works during rainy periods.
But experts say it is happening too often and poses a danger to health. Although not illegal, academics and environmental groups say it poses a danger to human health.
Untreated effluent, including human waste, wet wipes and sanitary products are contained within these releases, posing a serious risk to the local wildlife, swimmers and others who use UK waterways. Contained within the untreated effluent is human waste, wet wipes and sanitary products which a serious risk to the local wildlife, swimmers and others who use UK waterways.
"This degrades precious ecosystems and poses a danger to public health," said Prof Jamie Woodward, geography professor at the University of Manchester."This degrades precious ecosystems and poses a danger to public health," said Prof Jamie Woodward, geography professor at the University of Manchester.
"Each discharge is a toxic cocktail of many pollutants, including microplastics and pathogens.""Each discharge is a toxic cocktail of many pollutants, including microplastics and pathogens."
The latest data, revealed by the Environment Agency on Friday, is taken from monitoring stations installed at combined sewer overflows or CSOs. CSOs were developed as overflow valves to reduce the risk of sewage backing up during heavy rainfall when sewer pipes become overloaded, leading to flooding.The latest data, revealed by the Environment Agency on Friday, is taken from monitoring stations installed at combined sewer overflows or CSOs. CSOs were developed as overflow valves to reduce the risk of sewage backing up during heavy rainfall when sewer pipes become overloaded, leading to flooding.
The valves release a mixture of raw sewage from homes and businesses, and rainwater run-off.The valves release a mixture of raw sewage from homes and businesses, and rainwater run-off.
'Colossal amount of work''Colossal amount of work'
Whilst the data shows a 34% reduction in the duration of spills since 2021, John Leyland, environment agency executive director said last year's decrease was "largely down to dry weather, not water company action".Whilst the data shows a 34% reduction in the duration of spills since 2021, John Leyland, environment agency executive director said last year's decrease was "largely down to dry weather, not water company action".
"We want to see quicker progress from water companies on reducing spills and acting on monitoring data," he added."We want to see quicker progress from water companies on reducing spills and acting on monitoring data," he added.
According to the data, the company that released sewage most often in 2022 was United Utilities, which covers the North West of England. It spilled sewage nearly half a million times.According to the data, the company that released sewage most often in 2022 was United Utilities, which covers the North West of England. It spilled sewage nearly half a million times.
Water UK, which represents the water industry, accepted that there was "a colossal amount of work still to do" to reduce sewage spills. Water UK, which represents the water industry, told the BBC that this is the fourth year spill figures have come down and "companies are committed to building on this positive news".
The government has vowed to crack down on sewage spills. It requires the water companies invest an estimated £56bn over 25 years on improving their infrastructure, as well as fitting all storm overflows in the network with EDM monitors by the end of this year. Water Minister Rebecca Pow agreed that the level of discharges is "unacceptable" and said she wanted water companies to be held accountable.
The government has vowed to crack down on sewage spills by requiring water firms to invest £56bn over 25 years on improving their infrastructure, and to fit all storm overflows in the network with event duration monitoring (EDM) monitors by the end of this year.
But the Liberal Democrats have called on Secretary of State for the Environment Thérèse Coffey to resign over the figures.
And the Green Party agreed that water companies should be held to task more on the issue.
Green Party co-leader Adrian Ramsay said: "The situation we currently have across the country where water companies can, almost with impunity, dump sewage into our rivers, waterways and coastal waters cannot go on."
The Environment Agency and water regulator Ofwat is currently investigating six water companies for potential breach of the law over their discharges.
Jim McMahon, Labour shadow secretary for environment, called for an end to systematic discharges by 2030 and said the figures show a lack of respect from the government for the places people live.
The River Wharfe is the first river in the UK to be given bathing water statusThe River Wharfe is the first river in the UK to be given bathing water status
In the town of Ilkley, in West Yorkshire, local campaigners lobbied to have a stretch of their river designated as bathing water, meaning the Environment Agency has to test and monitor the quality of the water.In the town of Ilkley, in West Yorkshire, local campaigners lobbied to have a stretch of their river designated as bathing water, meaning the Environment Agency has to test and monitor the quality of the water.
But those tests have shown the bathing water quality to be poor, meaning that the Environment Agency deems it "worse than sufficient" in terms of levels of pollution.But those tests have shown the bathing water quality to be poor, meaning that the Environment Agency deems it "worse than sufficient" in terms of levels of pollution.
Ilkley Clean River campaigner Di Loury told BBC News that when members of the public visit Ilkley, "because it's designated as bathing water, they think the water is clean".Ilkley Clean River campaigner Di Loury told BBC News that when members of the public visit Ilkley, "because it's designated as bathing water, they think the water is clean".
"But testing is one thing, cleaning up the river is another. We really should be putting the quality of the river before the profits of water companies.""But testing is one thing, cleaning up the river is another. We really should be putting the quality of the river before the profits of water companies."
Many campaigners want to know how water companies can justify profits, while they continue to pollute UK waterways.Many campaigners want to know how water companies can justify profits, while they continue to pollute UK waterways.
Nicola Shaw, who took on the role of chief executive of Yorkshire Water 10 months ago, told BBC News that her company had not paid dividends to shareholders for five years: "And I actually think that's a worry," she said.Nicola Shaw, who took on the role of chief executive of Yorkshire Water 10 months ago, told BBC News that her company had not paid dividends to shareholders for five years: "And I actually think that's a worry," she said.
Ms Shaw pointed to the Storm Overflows Reduction Plan that the government published last year, which said water companies should invest more than £50 billion over the next 25 year in improving their environmental performance.
"We need shareholders to want to put money in to support the investment that needs to happen," she added."We need shareholders to want to put money in to support the investment that needs to happen," she added.
"I don't think any water company can claim that their activities don't do harm to the environment. But what we're trying to do is to do less [harm] and the projects we have in place are to help that."
Related TopicsRelated Topics
SewageSewage
IlkleyIlkley
Water pollutionWater pollution
EnvironmentEnvironment
Environment AgencyEnvironment Agency