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England’s Water Crisis Deepens wit

In 2024, sewage spills reached a record 3.61 million hours, over 2,487 pollution incidents were reported, and illnesses linked to sewage exposure surged, prompting calls for systemic reform.

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Surfers Against Sewage staged a “paddle-out protest” at Portobello beach to draw attention to sewage being dumped in waterways across the UK

Overview

  • Water companies in England recorded 2,487 pollution incidents in 2024, the highest in a decade and more than double the target set by the Environment Agency.
  • Sewage from storm overflows spilled for a record 3.61 million hours in 2024, with durations increasing despite a slight reduction in the number of spills compared to 2023.
  • Surfers Against Sewage reported 1,853 sickness cases linked to sewage pollution in 2024, including severe health impacts such as a woman requiring heart surgery after swimming in polluted waters.
  • Households face an average water bill increase of £86 in 2025, with critics calling the rise 'extortionate' given the industry's history of underinvestment and pollution.
  • Campaigners and experts are demanding urgent reforms to the privatized water management system, citing environmental damage, public health risks, and lack of accountability.