Labour has called for an immediate investigation into apparent illegal dry sewage spills by three water companies.
Southern, Thames and Wessex Water together discharged sewage for more than 3,500 hours last year when it was not raining, according to the BBC. This is not allowed under their permits.
The companies released data on the start and stop times of sewage spills from storm overflows, which BBC journalists cross-referenced with rainfall data. England’s other private wastewater firms refused to release figures, citing a criminal investigation by the Environment Agency.
Companies are allowed to release sewage from storm overflows, designed as the sewer network’s relief valves, at times of heavy rainfall when the capacity of treatment works is overwhelmed. Swimmers, paddleboarders and other river users typically know to avoid using rivers or take extra care after downpours.
However, the new analysis suggests that last year Wessex Water released 215 spills, Thames Water 110 and Southern Water 63. The apparent spills occurred at a variety of sites, including the River Chew in north Somerset, the River Lavant near Chichester and a river in a park in Dagenham, east London.