Water companies have pumped raw sewage into Britain’s seas and rivers for more than nine million hours since 2016, new data suggests.

The figure is an increase of 2,553% over five years, according to the Labour Party’s analysis of Environment Agency (EA) data, released under the Freedom of Information Act.

Between 2016 and 2021 water companies discharged sewage into waterways and the sea for a total of 9,427,355 hours, the equivalent of 1,076 years.

It comes as the EA issued warnings to holidaymakers to avoid dozens of beaches across England and Wales this week.

Untreated sewage water was spotted pouring into the sea near Bexhill, East Sussex on Wednesday.

On Saturday, the red flags were removed, meaning the water was officially deemed safe to bathe in.

The beach, however, was near-deserted.

Climate protesters glue themselves to 16th-century Leonardo da Vinci painting at Royal Academy

Island of wet wipes has ‘changed the course of the Thames’ as government considers ban

Families urged to reuse or recycle school uniform to save cash and cut down on 350 tonnes of plastic ending up in landfill every year

‘Filthy, murky, stinks’

Residents of Bexhill told Sky News they find what they describe as “regular sewage dumps” along the coast “devastating”.

Rachel Streeter moved to Bexhill-on-Sea in 2007 to enjoy wild swimming and the beach.

She described seeing faeces floating in the water on swims.

“It’s filthy, murky, and it stinks. Flies actually fly above the surface of the water as well as the sewage. It’s quite obvious,” she said.

Rachel says her friends and family have all become sick after swimming.

Her 79-year-old mother went for a swim last week and fell ill with “a severe bacterial infection”.

Subscribe to ClimateCast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Spreaker.

Businesses say they are being affected by it too.

Cliff Meadon, who runs canoeing and kayaking business Epic Life, and says he has lost “thousands” over the last two years due to sewage dumps.

“We’ve had to cancel sessions. We’ve been on the water with groups when we’ve had to come in as the sewage comes out. We’ve seen it,” he said.

In Hastings people were advised not to swim due to a pollution risk this week.

Beaches in Normans Bay as well as Bexhill were closed but have now reopened.

‘Heavily diluted’

The sewage dumps were blamed on heavy rainfall.

A spokesperson for Southern Water said: “This week’s heavy rain has fallen on to dry ground that can’t absorb surface run-off, meaning that more rain than usual has overwhelmed our network.

“This led to some overflows – which are used to protect homes, schools, businesses and hospitals from flooding – spilling excess water into the sea.

“These discharges are heavily diluted.

“We are dedicated to significantly reducing storm overflows and are running innovative pilot schemes across the region to reduce the amount of rainfall entering our combined sewers by 2030.”

The Environment Agency declined to comment.

Southern Water was fined £90 million last year for widespread pollution after pleading guilty to more than 6,000 unpermitted sewage discharges.

The discharges were carried out between 2010 and 2015.

Southern argued the sewage dumping had not been deliberate, and after the case said the company was committed to transformation, transparency and cultural change.

Related posts:

‘I had my head down in shame’: A COVID life in one of the UK’s poorest towns Football fans use flares to start training ground fire 1.7 million more urged to shield – but will get earlier access to COVID vaccines Sperm whales taught each other how avoid 19th century whalers’ harpoons ‘Historic anomaly’ corrected: Both parents to be included on marriage certificates Former head of Royal Marines Major General Matthew Holmes took his own life, inquest hears Prince Charles’s former aide quits charity role amid cash-for-honours claims Long COVID less common in fully vaccinated, UK health agency says Smacking ban: Wales outlaws physical punishment of children ‘Beautiful, irreplaceable’: Family pays tribute to 19-year-old murdered at student flats in London Met Police being ‘monitored’ over poor performance, independent inspectors say ‘I feel completely sick’: Archie’s mother pleas for help from health secretary