Dry-weather sewage spills surge, prompting fresh regulator scrutiny
Data obtained through freedom-of-information requests show that raw sewage was discharged on dry days 7,280 times in England and Wales between January and May 2026, a sharp rise from the previous year.
Freedom-of-information data reveal that raw sewage was released into rivers and seas on dry days 7,280 times in England and Wales from January through May 2026, outpacing the 8,576 incidents reported for the whole of 2025. Former Environment Agency officer Robert Forrester, who filed the requests, argues the spikes indicate intentional illegal discharges, noting that dry-weather spills are rarely accidental. Water companies, including South West Water, which logged 1,299 such events, contend the numbers are preliminary and not yet classified as dry-day spills.
Critics such as Liberal Democrat councillor Ed Tyldesley point to extensive releases after prolonged drought, questioning the reliability of monitoring data. Water UK responded that the figures are unverified but affirmed a commitment to invest £12 billion to cut storm-overflow spills by half by 2030. Defra said the government will now treat dry-day spills as pollution incidents to enable stronger enforcement.
Why it matters
Increasing illegal sewage releases threaten water quality, wildlife and public health, while highlighting regulatory gaps.
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