400,000 untreated sewage spills in one year

SEWAGE is pouring into England’s rivers and seas hundreds of thousands of times a year, official figures reveal.

There were a staggering 403,171 spills of diluted sewage from storm overflow outlets recorded by water companies in England last year. They occur during heavy rain to prevent the sewers becoming overloaded and backing up into homes.

But the untreated sewage they release into rivers and the sea can pollute watercourses and harm wildlife and swimmers.

Experts warn that with climate change driving more extreme storms, along with a growing population, the overflows will discharge more often.

There was an average of 33 spills per storm overflow last year, slightly lower than in 2019 when fewer outlets were monitored, with each one lasting an average of eight hours.

The Rivers Trust said the data showed almost one in five overflows were discharging more than 60 times a year.

A spokesman for industry body Water UK said water companies were investing £1.1 billion over five years to improve storm overflows.