England sewage spills more than double in 2023

Sewage spills into England's rivers and seas by water companies more than doubled last year.

The UK has combined sewage systems which mean rain and sewage share the same pipes, so if there is too much rain sewage treatment works can be overwhelmed.

The rain can help to dilute the sewage but academics warn there is still a risk to the local environment and anyone swimming in these bodies of water.

"Sewage pollution in the UK severely impacts waterways, with not a single river in England rated as healthy according to the latest Rivers Trust Rivers report," said Dr Dania Albini, research fellow in biosciences at University of Exeter.

Thames Water are nearing the end of a £5bn eight-year-long project to build a super sewer to tackle the issue of sewage spills into the River Thames.

Y Mitchell, the CEO of Tideway, told BBC News: "We're going to capture the vast, vast majority of the sewage that comes into the river and it will mean a cleaner river."

Last year, on behalf of all English sewerage companies, Water UK announced they would invest £10bn to upgrade sewage infrastructure - but these plans first have to be approved by the regulator Ofwat.

Water Minister Robbie Moore said: I have been clear that sewage pollution in our waters is unacceptable.

These two agencies are themselves under investigation by the independent Office for Environmental Protection who are concerned they have interpreted the law incorrectly on sewage discharging - allowing spills whenever it rains rather than only when there is "exceptional" rainfall.

A Thames Water spokesperson said: "We regard any untreated discharges as unacceptable. We have published plans to upgrade over 250 of our sewage treatment works, this includes our Horley Sewage Treatment Works. The upgrade is expected to begin construction in 2025."In the meantime, we have temporarily closed the footpath next to the site, while we work with contractors to build a new wall to help mitigate against flooding.