Cornwall: Massive sewage spill leaks into secluded beach

Pollution levels in England’s waterways have gone from afterthought to agenda-topper over the past year, to the point where they could determine the fate of a number of councils in Thursday’s local elections.

According to the Environment Agency (EA), sewage was discharged into the nation’s rivers and coastal seas for a total of 1.75 million hours in 2022 – equivalent to 200 years. 

Overflow systems designed to be used by water companies in “exceptional circumstances” only – when dirty water could back up into people’s homes for example – were instead used over 800 times a day on average.

Since last summer – when beachgoers at a number of Britain’s top destinations were told to keep out of the sea due to the risk of exposure to unhealthy pathogens – members of the public, campaigners and politicians alike have joined in calling for water companies to be held to account.

This responsibility falls upon the Conservative Government, and its inaction could influence voters affected by the most egregious polluters as thousands of seats go on the line.

England and Wales are the only countries in the world to have a fully privatised water and sewage disposal system. Water companies have enjoyed regional monopolies since 1989, and faced repeated accusations of flouting regulations for profit.

In 2022, United Utilities released more wastewater into the North West than any other firm, totalling just over 425,000 hours worth. CEO Steven Mogford made £3,178,000 in total compensation for the year, according to the Economic Research Institute. 

South West Water came second with 290,000 hours of discharges, followed by Severn Trent Water at 250,000 hours. 

Thames Water recorded the shortest total duration of spills last year at 75,000 hours, but this is likely due to it having the lowest proportion of overflows fitted with the EA’s duration monitors – at just 61.8 percent relative to an England-wide average of 91 percent.

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Which water companies discharged the most sewage in 2022?

Check the map above, and you can also check the River Trust’s live sewage map here.

Last week, Tory MPs shot down the Opposition’s Water Quality (Sewage Discharge) Bill which would have introduced legally binding targets and automatic fines for companies dumping sewage. Shadow Environment Secretary Jim McMahon accused the Conservatives of treating England’s waterways like “open sewers”.

During a three-hour debate, the Government argued Labour’s plans were unworkable and would result in extra charges for homeowners. Instead, Environment Secretary Therese Coffey confirmed her own Storm Overflow Reduction Plan, launched in September last year, would become law.

This includes ensuring water companies improve all overflows discharging into or near bathing waters and nature sites by 2035, and all overflows countrywide by 2050.

The Liberal Democrats had backed Labour’s motion, their environment spokesperson Tim Farron calling it “judgement day” for the Tories. The party’s leader Sir Ed Davey described the issue as a “national scandal”.

On Thursday polls will open in 230 of the 217 councils in England, with 8,058 seats being contested. Storm overflow figures are also likely to be a hot-button issue in next year’s general election.

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