Raw sewage spills into rivers and sea more than doubled last year, figures show [Video]

Raw sewage discharges into rivers and coastal waters more than doubled to record levels last year, new figures show.

Environment Agency data published on Wednesday showed there were 3.6 million hours of spills in 2023, compared with 1.8 million in the previous 12 months.

Water companies discharge waste into rivers and the sea when sewage is overwhelmed by rainwater in sewers, with outlets known as storm overflows acting as relief valves when rain is particularly heavy.

The storm overflows are only supposed to be activated in extreme weather but for years they have been used routinely, discharging sewage even on days when it has not been raining.

The water industry was expected to blame the dry 2022 – when parts of the country were officially declared in drought – followed by an unseasonably wet autumn/winter last year for the record spills.

The …