Sewage was discharged into the Humber for the equivalent of more than 200 days in 2024.
It is allowed to be spilled into waterways in order to prevent overflows during heavy rainfall. There were 563,730 spills across England and Wales in 2024, according to figures from the Rivers Trust. It works out at an average of 1,544 a day, a figure that is down from 1,588 per day in 2023.
The Humber itself saw sewage being discharged into its water for the equivalent of over 200 days in 2024. Hotspots include:
Hull Waste Water Treatment Works – 194 spills in 2024 lasting a total of 2,499 hours (the equivalent of 104 days)
Melton Stw – 154 spills in 2024 lasting a total of 1,868.75 hours (the equivalent of 78 days)
North Ferriby Stw – 126 spills in 2024 lasting a total of 669.50 hours (the equivalent of 28 days)
Nicola Shaw, CEO of Yorkshire Water, said: “We know overflows are operating more than we, or our customers, would like, but we’re pleased to begin to show progress on reducing storm overflow activity in our region. The reductions in discharges in 2024 resulted from both a drier year than 2023 and the hard work of our teams to deliver our £180m investment programme.”
The Government’s Environment Secretary, Steve Reed, has reacted to the national sewage spills figures for 2024, he said: “These figures are disgraceful and are a stark reminder of how years of underinvestment have led to water companies discharging unacceptable levels of sewage into our rivers, lakes, and seas.
“We’ve already placed water companies under tough special measures through the landmark Water Act, banning unfair bonuses for polluting water bosses and introducing criminal charges for lawbreakers.
“But we will go further and faster. That’s why this government has secured over £100 billion of private sector investment to upgrade our crumbling infrastructure and not only clean up our rivers, lakes and seas for good, but also help deliver economic growth across the country as part of our Plan for Change.”
By: Andrew Spence, LDRS
