https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-66670132
Three major water companies illegally discharged sewage hundreds of times last year on days when it was not raining, a BBC investigation suggests.
The practice, known as “dry spilling”, is banned because it can lead to higher concentrations of sewage in waterways.
Thames, Wessex and Southern Water appear to have collectively released sewage in dry spills for 3,500 hours in 2022 – in breach of their permits.
Water UK, the industry body, said the spills “should be investigated”.
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Collectively throughout 2022, Thames, Southern and Wessex illegally started releasing sewage on dry days 388 times – research by the BBC’s climate and data teams suggests – including during last summer when these regions were in drought.
There even appears to have been spills by all three companies on 19 July 2022, the hottest day on record, when temperatures topped 40C in some places and many people tried to cool off in rivers.
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