England water companies spill 3.6 million hours of sewage

Recent data from the Environment Agency reveals that English water companies discharged untreated sewage into rivers and seas for over 3.6 million hours last year, marking a slight increase compared to the previous year. Although the total number of spill incidents decreased by 2% to 450,398, the duration of spills rose by 0.2%, raising concerns about the ongoing pollution crisis. Environment Secretary Steve Reed criticized the figures as 'disgraceful,' attributing the situation to years of underinvestment in infrastructure. In response to the alarming statistics, the government has proposed a £100 billion public infrastructure investment plan and introduced the Water (Special Measures) Act, aimed at holding water companies accountable. Additionally, Water UK announced a £104 billion investment commitment over the next five years to address the issues. Despite these efforts, experts warn that it may take time before significant improvements are seen in reducing sewage spills.