The UK’s water industry oversaw a 30% increase in pollution spillages in 2024 – despite trying to reduce incidents by 40% over that period.
Surfers Against Sewage said there were almost 600,000 confirmed sewage discharges last year, although it suggests the true figure could be closer to a million.
The charity’s latest water quality report tracked sewage spills via discharge and sickness data and personal reports filed by citizens through its app.
While the water sector was privatised in England and Wales in 1989, it has remained in public ownership in Northern Ireland and Scotland.
Data acquired through freedom of information requests saw repeated failings across all countries in the UK, although water firms in England particularly have racked up significant debts despite frequent sewage leaks. In the two decades following privatisation, it is estimated that English water firms paid £57bn in dividends to shareholders.
Last year, English firms recorded 2,487 pollution incidents – more than...