Latest official statistics show that water companies in England and Wales spilled raw sewage 450,398 times in 2024, just 2.9 per cent lower than the total in 2023, which was the highest on record.
An analysis of Environment Agency figures by the The i Paper reveals the individual locations that were hit by the highest total number of sewage spills last year.
It comes more than ten years after South West Water was fined £60,000 for spilling sewage into the sea during the annual Salcombe Regatta.
The hamlet of Hurdcott in Wiltshire is also among the locations that saw the biggest deluge of raw sewage last year. Wessex Water dumped waste into a tributary of the Avon 310 times for a period of 6,446 hours.
In the village of Langthorne, Yorkshire Water poured raw sewage 282 times for 5,127 hours.
Sewage spills typically occur during periods of wet weather as water companies are force to release raw waste into rivers and the seas to prevent their systems becoming overwhelmed and sewage backing up into people’s homes (although its also been proven firms dump illegally when its dry).
Responding to today’s figures, Giles Bristow, CEO at Surfers Against Sewage said: “Ignore the industry spin: there is zero justification for sewage pollution at this sickening scale.”
Bills will rise at an average of £31 per year to fund the works, which water companies say will massively reduce the number of spills.
James Wallace, CEO of River Action, said: “Instead of tackling this scandal, the water regulator has signed off massive bill increases for the public, while water company bosses continue to pocket obscene salaries and investors reap profits while costly debts soar. A third of my water bill services junk debt. It’s madness.”
A spokesperson for Water UK, which represents water companies said: “While these results are disappointing, we are starting to see the effect of investment with many companies reducing the number of spills in their area, despite 2024 being one of the wettest years on record.”
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