- During last week's heatwave, environmental charity Surfers Against Sewage documented 2,856 hours of sewage released into UK waters, with 99 hours affecting designated bathing areas.
- Thames Water was responsible for the most sewage discharges in England, spilling for 377 hours, while Southern Water recorded the highest number of discharges into bathing waters, totalling 49 hours.
- These sewage releases, occurring between 22 and 26 June, were attributed to heavy thunderstorms that overwhelmed the UK's aging pipe network, allowing water companies to legally discharge untreated sewage.
- The charity's monitoring service issued 46 sewage alerts from 43 locations, and 60 cases of sickness from 39 different sites were reported, highlighting significant health risks from contaminated water.
- Campaigners are demanding urgent action, including special administration for failing water companies, while the government and water industry have outlined plans for substantial investment and regulatory reforms to tackle sewage pollution.
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