Revealed: Over 3,000 “monster sewage dumps” last year

Embargoed until Wednesday 22.30 12 April 2023

• Over 3,000 incidents of “high frequency sewage spills” into rivers and coastlines flooded with pollution

• Liberal Democrats call for water companies to be forced to fix leakiest pipes and prevent these spills

There were over 3,000 “monster” sewage dumps into Britain’s rivers and coastlines last year, up 63% on the previous year, new analysis by the Liberal Democrats has revealed.

The research shows a sharp rise in the number of “high spill frequency” sewage discharges, where raw sewage is dumped frequently into one single area. These incidents are deemed so serious that water companies are forced to investigate why sewage has been dumped so often and report back within three months on what action is being taken.

The latest data shows there were 3,275 high frequency spills recorded in 2022, up from 2,008 the year before. The large jump is shocking considering the Environment Agency reported that drought conditions have reduced the number of overall sewage spills across the country. In total there were 194,900 sewage dumps from high frequency spill overflows in 2022, lasting over 1.3 million hours.

The Lake District’s water company United Utilities are the worst offenders with nearly 40% of their storm overflows being identified as having a “high spill frequency” - which obliges the water company to investigate the cause within three months. 30% of South West Water overflows, which runs the sewage system in Devon and Cornwall, were identified as “high spill frequency”.

The longest dump from one of these overflows was by United Utilities from Plumbland wastewater treatment works in Cumbria  - which dumped sewage 339 times into the River Ellen for a staggering 6,896 hours - nearly 19 hours everyday. 

Meanwhile, Severn Trent dumped sewage into Whissendine Brook in Rutland from a nearby wastewater treatment works 318 times for 6,646 hours in 2022. 

The Liberal Democrats are calling for the water companies to be forced to upgrade their infrastructure to fix the leakiest pipes and prevent these monster spills. 

Liberal Democrat Environment Spokesperson Tim Farron said:

“These monster sewage dumps cause devastation, flooding swimming spots with foul water and destroying animal habitats. The rise in these spills truly is a national scandal. 

“Water company execs are raking in millions in bonuses whilst their pipes leak sewage into our lakes and rivers. The whole thing stinks. These polluting firms are obligated to investigate, yet still no action is taken. You would think after a historic drought these figures would drop. It seems there is no end in sight for the sewage scandal. 

“Ministers need to get a grip of this. Their half-baked plans announced recently just let water companies get away with it. The public won’t stand for this any longer.

“Water companies need to be forced to fix the leakiest pipes responsible for these monster sewage dumps.”

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS

Liberal Democrat analysis for 2021 and 2022 - Monster sewage dumps

Full data on storm dumps can be found here - https://environmentagency.blog.gov.uk/2022/03/31/storm-overflow-spill-data-released-today-shows-no-room-for-complacency/

Embargoed until Wednesday 22.30 12 April 2023

Revealed: Over 3,000 “monster sewage dumps” last year

• Over 3,000 incidents of “high frequency sewage spills” into rivers and coastlines flooded with pollution

• Liberal Democrats call for water companies to be forced to fix leakiest pipes and prevent these spills

There were over 3,000 “monster” sewage dumps into Britain’s rivers and coastlines last year, up 63% on the previous year, new analysis by the Liberal Democrats has revealed.

The research shows a sharp rise in the number of “high spill frequency” sewage discharges, where raw sewage is dumped frequently into one single area. These incidents are deemed so serious that water companies are forced to investigate why sewage has been dumped so often and report back within three months on what action is being taken.

The latest data shows there were 3,275 high frequency spills recorded in 2022, up from 2,008 the year before. The large jump is shocking considering the Environment Agency reported that drought conditions have reduced the number of overall sewage spills across the country. In total there were 194,900 sewage dumps from high frequency spill overflows in 2022, lasting over 1.3 million hours.

The Lake District’s water company United Utilities are the worst offenders with nearly 40% of their storm overflows being identified as having a “high spill frequency” - which obliges the water company to investigate the cause within three months. 30% of South West Water overflows, which runs the sewage system in Devon and Cornwall, were identified as “high spill frequency”.

The longest dump from one of these overflows was by United Utilities from Plumbland wastewater treatment works in Cumbria  - which dumped sewage 339 times into the River Ellen for a staggering 6,896 hours - nearly 19 hours everyday. 

Meanwhile, Severn Trent dumped sewage into Whissendine Brook in Rutland from a nearby wastewater treatment works 318 times for 6,646 hours in 2022. 

The Liberal Democrats are calling for the water companies to be forced to upgrade their infrastructure to fix the leakiest pipes and prevent these monster spills. 

Liberal Democrat Environment Spokesperson Tim Farron said:

“These monster sewage dumps cause devastation, flooding swimming spots with foul water and destroying animal habitats. The rise in these spills truly is a national scandal. 

“Water company execs are raking in millions in bonuses whilst their pipes leak sewage into our lakes and rivers. The whole thing stinks. These polluting firms are obligated to investigate, yet still no action is taken. You would think after a historic drought these figures would drop. It seems there is no end in sight for the sewage scandal. 

“Ministers need to get a grip of this. Their half-baked plans announced recently just let water companies get away with it. The public won’t stand for this any longer.

“Water companies need to be forced to fix the leakiest pipes responsible for these monster sewage dumps.”

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS

Liberal Democrat analysis for 2021 and 2022 - Monster sewage dumps

Full data on storm dumps can be found here - https://environmentagency.blog.gov.uk/2022/03/31/storm-overflow-spill-data-released-today-shows-no-room-for-complacency/