In a shocking data reveal, raw sewage was dumped into English rivers 825 times a day just last year, leading MP Keir Starmer to call out the government for “turning Britain’s waterways into an open sewer."

The Environment Agency relayed that over 300,000 spillages into rivers and coastal areas occurred in 2022, which amount to more than 1.75 million hours. In light of the revelations, Environment Secretary Thérèse Coffey was urged to resign for failing to act, and PM Rishi Sunak was pressured to act more. 

After stating that sewage dumping was “ruining so many areas of our country and the Conservatives are sitting on their hands, with no response to it," Starmer vowed “real action on this scandal,” such as automatic fines for sewage dumped by water companies, alongside holding water bosses accountable for negligent practices.

For example, the company United Utilities was found accountable for 69,000 spills last year. 

Read next: UK water companies discharge sewage into water, protected by monopoly

However, a source from the Tory party said, “Labour failed to monitor water quality when they were in government, and they propose forcing the taxpayer and households to pick up the bill for polluting water companies.”

Although data released by the Environment Agency demonstrate a reduction of 19% in sewage spills from 2021 to 2022, John Leyland, the Environment Agency executive director, said the decrease was “largely down to dry weather, not water company action”.

'Failing to keep polluters in check'

According to the Labour party, sewage discharges at the end of last year doubled from 14.7 per overflow in 2016 to 35.4 in 2019 - coincidentally occurring at the same time as Coffey’s decision to cut down on funding for environmental protection.

The latest state of rivers and lakes released by the Environment Agency in 2020 shows that only 16% meet the criteria for good ecological status and that no water bodies are deemed to meet the criteria for achieving good chemical status. Both combined criteria are supposed to be met for a waterway to be considered in a good state.

Coffey continues to remain under fire having announced a 36-year delay in cleaning up waterways, in addition to telling parliament that discussing matters with water companies responsible for the environmental disaster wasn't a priority.

Read more: Target to clean UK water bodies pushed back 30 years - 2027 to 2063

Surfers Against Sewage member Izzy Ross said, “Throughout 2022, water companies continued to pour sewage into our rivers and seas with indefensible frequency. Their negligence is unparalleled, and the people and wildlife of the UK are suffering the consequences," adding that Coffey is "failing to keep polluters in check. The environment minister must protect the environment.”

In response to the recent data, United Utilities commented, “We set out to reduce the number of spills from storm overflows by at least one-third by 2025, compared to the 2020 baseline, and our performance in 2022 means we have met that target."

"We know there is much more to be done. With the largest combined sewer network in the country and 28% more rainfall in our region than the UK average, we have ambitious plans to deliver further improvements through one of the biggest environmental programs in the country.”

Back in 2020, The Guardian disclosed that water companies spilled sewage 200,000 times into rivers the previous year and continued to prove that privatized water firms paid £57 billion in dividends since the year 1991. 

I think this may catch on #SewageScandal #TorySewageParty #saveourwater #SaveOurBeaches https://t.co/RZBNn1WtUR

— Life of Lady Sally 🇬🇧🇪🇺#SupportTheStrikes 💙💙 (@sallybell08) August 27, 2022

In addition to that amount, former Environment Secretary George Eustice announced last year that these firms would still have to pay £56 billion for the next 25 years to tackle and end sewage discharges by the year 2050.

The UK government set a plan that stated that by 2035, water companies will be required to regulate overflows discharging into or near bathing water and enhance 75% of the sewage discharging to nature sites. This plan has been labeled as inadequate by critics, and it was called a "cruel joke".