River Volting

Water companies pumped raw sewage into our rivers nearly 300,000 times last year.

- Stephen Hayward

Data from the Environment Agency, which is responsible for English rivers, reveals the “spills” have soared by more than 2,200 per cent in four years.

Discharge of untreated waste – which includes excrement, condoms and toilet paper – is permitted in “exceptional circumstances” such as torrential rain.

But river watchdogs say the scale of sewage releases shows it has become a “routine” part of water management.

They are demanding urgent action, insisting: “We want water companies to clean up their mess.”

The discharges are from sewage treatment works, storm drains and overflows at pumping stations. There were 292,864 in 2019, up from 12,637 in 2016.

The Environment Agency issues permits to all nine water firms to release waste from sewer overflows so water does not back up and flood homes.