Advertisement
Environment

Water companies are ‘wilfully misleading’ the public over sewage claims, watchdog says

Water companies pumped sewage into the UK’s rivers more than 300,000 times in 2022, according to new data.

Water companies are “wilfully misleading” the public over their efforts to stop the amount of sewage flowing into the UK’s rivers and coastal regions, according to the government watchdog responsible for holding them to account.

New data shows water companies released sewage into the environment more than 300,000 times in 2022, averaging more than 824 times a day. While the total is a decrease on 2021, the volume recorded by “event duration monitoring” (EDM) systems is still “indefensible”, according to campaigners.

“The 2022 EDM data shows a decrease in spills, which reflects last year’s drier than average weather,” the Environment Agency said in a statement accompanying the figures. “Despite claims by water companies and Water UK, the body that represents their interests, there is no evidence to show it is because of water company action.”

Water companies release sewage through “storm overflow systems” if sewer networks are at risk of being overloaded, which can lead to flooding. The most common reason for spills in 2022, according to the data, was because sewers were at capacity.

But the companies made minimal improvements to their systems across the year, the EA said, amounting to “less than 0.5 per cent of the overall total”.

“So we are very confident that water company action has not significantly contributed to the reduction in flows overall,” it added. “For them to claim otherwise is wilfully misleading.”

Advertisement
Advertisement

A spokesperson for Water UK said water companies were committed to “£56 billion of investment to replumb England, fix storm overflows and protect our rivers and seas” to “ensure we continue to see these number move in a positive direction”.

The combined duration of of the monitored spills across the UK in 2022 stood at 1,754,921 hours, meaning if they came from just one source it would last for more than 200 years.

The worst offender for the number of spills was United Utilities, in north-west England, followed by Yorkshire Water and Severn Trent Water.

“Once again, the data speaks for itself,” said Izzy Ross, from Surfers Against Sewage. “Throughout 2022 water companies continued to pour sewage into our rivers and seas with indefensible frequency.

“Meanwhile over the same period these companies doled out a combined total of £1bn to their shareholders. These are the same companies that have continually failed to invest in upgrading the UK’s outdated sewage infrastructure. Their negligence is unparalleled, and the people and wildlife of the UK are suffering the consequences.”

The Environment Agency said the number of spills water companies are allowing on the sewerage network is “far too high and totally unacceptable,” adding that it is “considering whether any action is required under our Enforcement and Sanctions Policy”.

Advertisement

But despite the high volume of sewage discharges, the overwhelming majority did not break any government regulations.

The Timesreported that water companies had breached their permits to expel sewage into the environment 554 times across the year, according to figures from water minister Rebecca Pow, meaning 99.8 per cent of discharges were acceptable and within the guidelines.

Lib Dem leader Ed Davey called on Thérèse Coffey, the environment secretary, to “resign or be sacked” following the announcement.

“A historic drought is no excuse for this government’s inaction and failure,” he said. “The environment secretary has let water companies get away with this environmental crime for far too long.

“It is clear she simply doesn’t care enough to get tough on these polluting firms. Thérèse Coffey must now resign or be sacked so we can have an environment secretary who actually cares about saving our rivers from destruction.”

The Water UK spokesperson said: “This is an important milestone and the fourth consecutive year we have seen a fall in the number of spills from each storm overflow.

Advertisement

“This is the start of the journey and to ensure we continue to see these numbers move in a positive direction water companies are bringing forward £56 billion of investment to replumb England, fix storm overflows and protect our rivers and seas.

“There remains much more to be done, and there will be bumps in the road, but companies are committed to building on this positive news to ensure we play our role in bringing about the transformation we all want to see.”

Do you have a story to tell or opinions to share about this topic? We want to hear from you. And we want to share your views with more people. Get in touch and tell us more.

Advertisement

Buy a Big Issue Vendor Support Kit

This Christmas, give a Big Issue vendor the tools to keep themselves warm, dry, fed, earning and progressing.

Recommended for you

Read All
'Daylight robbery': Fury as water bills to rise by £31 per year over next five years
homeless heatwave
Water bills

'Daylight robbery': Fury as water bills to rise by £31 per year over next five years

'Complete disaster': Outrage as Thames Water reports huge spike in sewage spills… again
Thames Water

'Complete disaster': Outrage as Thames Water reports huge spike in sewage spills… again

Getting to the great outdoors by public transport is easier and more enjoyable than you think
Travel

Getting to the great outdoors by public transport is easier and more enjoyable than you think

'We'll have to get more militant': The real winners and losers from the farm inheritance tax debate
a tractor in a field
Farming

'We'll have to get more militant': The real winners and losers from the farm inheritance tax debate

Most Popular

Read All
Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits
Renters: A mortgage lender's window advertising buy-to-let products
1.

Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal
Pound coins on a piece of paper with disability living allowancve
2.

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over
next dwp cost of living payment 2023
3.

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over

Citroën Ami: the tiny electric vehicle driving change with The Big Issue
4.

Citroën Ami: the tiny electric vehicle driving change with The Big Issue