South West Water has reduced storm overflow spills at one of its highest spilling sites in Cornwall after recent improvements in the area.

New data published today by Tideway shows the impact of London’s new super sewer on the River Thames - the new tunnel network captured nearly 850,000 tonnes of sewage in a recent single 24h period of heavy rain.

Anglian Water is set to invest more than £500,000 in the Hunstanton area to protect the local environment, prevent flooding, and improve the health of beaches and bathing waters.

Scottish Water has published updated data relating to waste water overflow events in line with a commitment to improve transparency of operation - the utility published its Improving Urban Waters Routemap in December 2021 setting out a range of improvement activities.

Water UK, the organisation which represents all the UK water companies, has said the water sector acknowledges the urgent need to tackle storm overflows – but more action is required from Government to accelerate progress.

The Rt Hon Philip Dunne MP, Chairman of the House of Commons  Environmental Audit Committee, has called unpermitted sewage discharges by the water companies “disgusting practices’ which cannot continue.

The House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) has welcomed the Government response to its report, Water quality in rivers, as demonstrating a welcome shift in attitude and an increase in Government ambition on water quality after decades of inaction.

New plans unveiled by the Government today would see water companies face strict limits on when they can use storm overflows and must completely eliminate the ecological harm any storm sewage discharges cause to the environment and significantly reduce discharges to protect public health.