Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Netanyahu’s office: A government meeting will be held on October 9 to approve the Gaza agreement.
Hani Al-Dali to Al Mayadeen: Aid will be delivered to the Gaza Strip in accordance with the humanitarian protocol signed on January 19.
Hani Al-Dali to Al Mayadeen: According to the agreement, 1,700 prisoners abducted from Gaza following Operation Al-Aqsa Flood will be released, including children and women.
Hani al-Dali to Al Mayadeen: 250 Palestinian prisoners with extreme and life sentences will be released.
Hamas: We will not abandon our people's national rights until freedom, independence, and self-determination are achieved.
Hamas: We affirm that our people's sacrifices will not be in vain, and we will remain true to our pledge.
Hamas: The great sacrifices and steadfastness of our people have thwarted the Israeli occupation’s plans of subjugation and displacement.
Hamas: We salute our people who confronted the fascist occupation plots that targeted them and their national rights.
Hamas: We salute our people who have demonstrated unparalleled pride, heroism, and honor.
Hamas: We salute our great people in the Gaza Strip, Al-Quds, the West Bank, and both inside and outside the homeland.

Raw sewage pumped into Britain seas, rivers for 2.6 mln hrs. in 2021

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 20 Aug 2022 10:58
  • 1 Shares
3 Min Read

Environment Agency data exposes the staggering amount of raw sewage being discharged into tourist and bathing hotspots.

  • x
  • Raw sewage pumped to Britain seas and rivers for 2.6 mil. hours in 2021.
    Raw sewage pumped into Britain's seas and rivers for 2.6 million hours in 2021

Water providers have spent over nine million hours pumping untreated sewage into Britain's seas and rivers since 2016. The staggering amount being discharged into tourist and bathing hotspots was revealed by Environment Agency figures. 

The Labour Party, which received the statistics through Freedom of Information rules, warned on Friday that the overall level of pollution might be much worse.

Labour's environment spokesperson, Jim McMahon, accused the water companies of cutting corners in order to "dump filthy raw sewage over our playing fields and into our seas."

He added, "Labour will put a stop to this disgraceful practice by ensuring there can be enforcement of unlimited fines, holding water company bosses legally and financially accountable for their negligence, and by toughening up regulations that currently allow the system to be abused."

Read next: California governor offers new water plan amid climate change

The raw sewage has been dumped into the UK's seas and rivers for a total of 9,427,355 hours since 2016, according to the data.

It also shows a 2,553% increase in the number of monitored discharge hours between 2016 and 2021, with the Conservatives claiming that the situation is "drastically worsening". The Environment Agency documented 100,533 hours of spills in 2016. By 2021, that figure had rocketed to 2,667,452. 

Related News

Iraq needs specialized negotiation team to tackle water crisis

‘Thirst grips my family’: No water or food amid Israeli Gaza genocide

Polluted summer

The Surfers Against Sewage Safer Seas and Rivers Service discovered that sewage has been dumped into seas at beaches in Cornwall, Devon, Sussex, Lancashire, and Cumbria, among other areas, and warned that bathers could be endangered.

The most concentrated areas were across the south coast. 

Water companies are permitted to discharge sewage into rivers and seas in order to keep sewage treatment plants from getting overburdened during periods of heavy rain. However, critics claim that companies have failed to invest in improved infrastructure, such as storage tanks, instead opting to pay dividends to shareholders and bonuses to top executives.

Earlier this month, the Daily Telegraph reported that government efforts to cut the amount of raw sewage discharged into rivers had been put on hold. However, the government now appears to be sticking to the September deadline. 

Read next: UK fails to invest in water networks to avoid severe droughts

The Department of Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs stated that the government was "taking action" on sewage discharges, with the present administration being the first to expect water corporations to drastically reduce storm overflow emissions.

Water minister Steve Double said, "We are the first government to act to tackle sewage overflows.  We have been clear that water companies' reliance on overflows is unacceptable, and they must prioritize drastically reducing the amount of sewage they discharge."

"This is on top of ambitious action we have already taken, including consulting on targets to improve water quality which will act as a powerful tool to deliver cleaner water, pushing all water companies to go further and faster to fix overflows."

  • United Kingdom
  • Water pollution
  • water scarcity
  • Water Shortage
STOP THE HEAT: A Climate Change Coverage

STOP THE HEAT: A Climate Change Coverage

Most Read

Tucker Carlson speaks at a memorial for Charlie Kirk, Sunday, September 21, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona (AP)

Tucker Carlson: Israeli officers gave orders on Iran inside Pentagon

  • Politics
  • 2 Oct 2025
A Hamas fighter in combat fatigues stands before the ceremony for the handover of Israeli captives to the Red Cross in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip, Saturday, February 22, 2025 (AP)

Hamas responds to Trump plan, backs Gaza withdrawal, exchange

  • Politics
  • 3 Oct 2025
Mossad’s secret role in Aldo Moro’s 1978 murder revealed

Mossad’s secret role in Aldo Moro’s 1978 murder exposed

  • Politics
  • 5 Oct 2025
The Palestinian resistance and the people of Gaza showed that after combating Israeli aggression for two years, they remain victorious in the face of oppression (Mahdi Rteil/Al Mayadeen English)

Al-Aqsa Flood two years on, a tale of victory

  • Politics
  • 6 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
An Israeli armored vehicle moves on a street of a local market during a military raid in the West Bank refugee camp of Balata, Wednesday, October 8, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Israeli settlers kill Palestinian youth near Ramallah amid raids

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov speaks during the Moscow format consultations on Afghanistan in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Iran interested in resuming nuclear talks: Lavrov

International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva speaks during a news conference at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) headquarters in Washington, April 25, 2025 (AP)
Politics

IMF head flags US budget, Europe Defense spending challenges

Prime Minister of Italy Giorgia Meloni addresses the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025, at UN headquarters (AP)
Politics

Meloni faces ICC complaint over Gaza genocide complicity with Israelis

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS