New Environment Agency data due to be published at 9.30am today is expected to show record levels of sewage spills in 2023, according to The Guardian newspaper.
Widespread media reports say that more than 4 million hours of raw sewage discharges were released into rivers and seas in 2023, a 129% increase on the previous 12 months.
The news was first reported by The Guardian at 8.00pm last night as an exclusive story, based on an early estimate of the Environment Agency figures seen by the newspaper.
According to the Guardian, total discharges from 14,000 storm overflows in England that release untreated sewage into rivers and coastal waters will show an increased of 59% to 477,972,making 2023 the worst year for sewage spills.
Other media organisations reporting the news story include The Telegraph and the BBC. According to a lead item on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme this morning, Water UK has declined to comment. Newscaster Martha Carney said:
"We did ask to speak to Water UK the trade association for the water industry, but no-one was prepared to talk to us."
With the UK government demanding a 50% reduction in storm overflow spills by 2029, the era of reactive management is over. Speaking in the House of Commons on 21 July 2025, then environment secretary Steve Reed said, “This Government will cut water companies’ sewage pollution in half by the end of the decade.”
ERG, the leading supplier of odour control systems and industrial gas cleaning & thermal systems, has been awarded the coveted King’s Award for Enterprise.
Welsh Water’s new artificial intelligence-driven tool, ORAI, has been shortlisted for three categories at the prestigious British Data Awards 2026 – underscoring the company’s commitment to using cutting-edge technology to deliver better outcome for customers.
Barhale has completed work on two separate Rapid Action Taskforce Spills projects it is carrying out for Severn Trent.
Hear how Scottish Water has completed its £235 million Ayrshire Glasgow Resilience Project - customers across Greater Glasgow, Ayrshire and East Renfrewshire will now benefit from a more secure and resilient water supply.
Hear how United Utilities is accelerating its investment to reduce spills from storm overflows across the Northwest.
Find out more about the remarkable career opportunities on offer at WSP - scroll down to watch the inspirational video.