Water companies have discharged sewage into over 100 waterways and beaches across the south of England as rainfall continues to incapacitate the UK’s water system.
Thames Water registered 67 overflows in its network in the past 48 hours. One site in Oxford has been discharging sewage into the River Coln in Fairford for over 600 hours, and another in Stewkley has pumped sewage into Hardwick Brook for over 200 hours at the time of writing.
Dozens of sites across the Exeter and north Wales coasts have been hit with dozens of sewage alerts and pollution risk forecasts due to the heavy rain. At least 13 sites in North Wales and 13 more in Exeter are subject to sewage overflows according to Safer Seas & Rivers Service (SSRS).
In the past 48 hours, sewage overflows have also occurred at an additional seven coastal locations in Snowdonia National Park, and three beaches in Anglesea, an area of Outstanding Beauty.
Exeter saw some consistent rain on Friday, with North Wales experiencing some light showers, but no weather warnings were issued for these areas.
To prevent their systems from becoming overwhelmed under exceptional conditions, water companies are permitted to discharge raw sewage from 14,500 outlets across the country.
Sewage alerts appeared across the Exeter coast following the heavy rain on Saturday (Surfers Against Sewage)
Heavy rainfall can overload the UK’s outdated sewage system, however, there are increasing concerns regarding the frequent sewage discharges from UK water companies.
Anger is growing over sewage discharges into England’s rivers and seas – with a record 3.6 million hours of spills in 2023, compared to 1.75 million in 2022.
Thames Water has pledged to upgrade 250 of its sewage treatment works to increase treatment capacity and reduce storm discharges, while Southern Water has developed “a £1.5bn plan to tackle storm overflows”.
South West Water has pledged to invest £38m in the Exmouth area up to 2030 to upgrade pumping stations and treatment works as well as “significantly reduce the number of spills and further protect the environment”.
i has contacted Thames Water, Welsh Water and South West Water for comment.
The North Wales coast had several after heavy rainfall on Saturday (Surfers Against Sewage)
Mark Lloyd, the Rivers Trust’s chief executive, told i: “Sewage overflows are a persistent problem that regulators and companies should have tackled many years ago.
“There will be significant investment by companies over the next five years to reduce spills, but we would like to see more complementary action by local authorities, housing developers and farmers to slow the flow of surface water that leads to sewers overflowing.
“Greater use of nature-based solutions like wetlands to achieve this could have great benefits for nature recovery, drought resilience and net zero targets.”
Testing conducted on discharges from sewage treatment sites between 1 January to 1 October this year was at its lowest rate since 2012, according to data analysed by i.
If testing continues at the same rate for the remainder of the year (between 2 October and 31 December, 2024), then fewer tests will be conducted than any year since 2012, when 9,892 tests were conducted in that period.
It comes as Labour’s water bill makes its way through the House of Lords.
The bill will strengthen regulation, give the water regulator new powers to ban the payment of bonuses if environmental standards are not met and increase accountability for water executives.
i is calling on all the political parties to sign up to its manifesto to Save Britain’s Rivers
#1. RIVER HEALTH: 77% rivers in good health by 2027
Current situation: England’s rivers were once havens of biodiversity, but the vast majority are now struggling to support healthy ecosystems of plants and wildlife. Just 14 per cent of rivers in England are currently in good ecological health and not a single river has achieved good chemical health. The Government has set a legal target that 77 per cent will achieve good ecological status by 2027 – but without urgent action this will not happen.
Target: Within its first six months in power, the new Government will publish a roadmap on how it is going to achieve this existing legal target, and its long-awaited chemical strategy. The plan must include increased funding for the Environment Agency so the watchdog can do its job – and enforce the law.
#2. SEWAGE: Sewage spills will not damage high-priority areas – including bathing spots and nature sites – by 2030
Current situation: Bathing waters and nature sites are being destroyed by sewage spills, but water companies will not be required to clean up all these spaces until 2045.
Target: Untreated sewage will not cause damage to high-priority sites (which are bathing spots, protected nature sites, National Parks and chalk streams) by 2030. Water companies who fail to meet this target will be prosecuted. Nature-based solutions will be used to clean up sewage wherever possible.
#3. WATCHDOG: Regulators will stop water companies destroying the environment in pursuit of profit
Current situation: Water companies have paid their investors healthy dividends while failing to invest enough in their infrastructure to prevent environmental harm. This is partly caused by a disjointed regulatory system that prioritises economic outcomes over the environment.
Target: Within its first year in power, the new Government will publish a plan to reform regulation of water companies. This plan must be legislated on and executed within the first term of Parliament. This will include tougher powers to restrict dividends and bonuses for underperforming water companies, alongside greater resources to pursue prosecution. A “green duty” will be placed on Ofwat, which will force the regulator to place greater emphasis on the environment when making decisions over water companies’ business plans.
#4. BATHING: Create 100 clean bathing spots in rivers by 2030
Current situation: People in the UK have discovered the joy of wild swimming. But there are only 15 official bathing spots in English rivers, and many are not safe.
Target: 100 bathing spots in English rivers by the end of the new parliamentary term. The Environment Agency must start monitoring water quality throughout the year and take action to improve water quality at these sites. Bathing regulations will be altered so polluters can be prosecuted when bathing sites fail water quality tests.
#5. FARMING: Farmers must be funded to improve water quality, and face enforcement action if they damage the environment
Current situation: Agriculture is the biggest source of pollution in many rivers, but many farmers warn they are struggling to make ends meet under post-Brexit farming subsidies. Meanwhile, the Environment Agency is failing to enforce farming water-quality regulations.
Target: Within its first year in power, the new Government will strengthen its Environmental Land Management scheme so farmers are given more grants, support and advice to undertake activities that will improve water quality. The Environment Agency will commit to a year-on-year increase in the number of farms being inspected – and take enforcement action against those who commit breaches of the “farming rules for water”.
