Illegal sewage spills: Three major water companies under scrutiny

New data shows that three major water companies illegally discharged sewage for over 3,000 hours last year, including on days when it was not raining.

Thames, Wessex and Southern Water have all been accused of releasing sewage on days when it did not rain, according to information found in an investigation by the BBC.

The broadcaster gathered data that showed that the companies collectively released sewage in dry spells for 3,500 hours last year. Water UK responded to the BBC with a statement saying it “should be investigated”.

The practice of discharging water in dry conditions is called ‘dry spilling’ and is illegal under environmental law due to the fact it can leader to a higher percentage of sewage in waterways. The Environment Agency defines a dry day as one where there was less that 0.25 mm of rain on that day and the day before.

Data from the campaign group Surfers Against Sewage who monitor water and track spills across the UK, also gathered data around at least 143 potential illegal dry spills at the end of 2022.

At the time, the group said:  “Shareholders are failing to enforce and strengthen the health of the UK’s waterways – and the health of its citizens. Politicians are simply kicking the can down the road.”

It comes after mounting criticism of water companies in the UK and not long after former Thames Water boss Sarah Bentley was forced to step down over the water company’s leakage rate.


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Speaking to the BBC’s Hardtalk last week former Undertones singer Feargal Sharkey turned clean water campaigner, lambasted the water companies: “I believe England is unique. It is the only country in the world with an absolutely 100% privatised water industry,” he said.

“There are any number of models used throughout the world some hybrid, some public, but England so far as I’m aware is unique on the planet on the planet in that industry is 100% privatised and b these are companies operating state granted monopolies for profit”.

He continued: “You clearly need a system of regulation that is hands on, that is proactive and is capable of delivering and ensuring not only the interests of the customers and bill payers but the environment”

Asked about water quality Sharkey added, “There are currently two stretches of rivers in England right now designated as bathing water”

He continued: “In 2009 24% of our rivers met good ecological status, that has now dropped and the current projection is that by 2027 that will be down to just 6 and as we speak every single river in England fails the chemical test, every single river is polluted, and one of the biggest sources of that pollution is the water industry.”

Nature and the environmentNewsPolicy

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