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."