Data gathered by the party using data from the Environment Service for the 2021 discharges show that water companies have released raw sewage 25,000 times in designated bathing waters off the English coast. Data gathered by the Top of the Poops campaign team reveals that when they included bathing water in Wales, water companies released raw sewage for 217,804 hours. The EU-created bathing water names are supposed to highlight the country’s cleanest and safest waters for the public. Water quality is publicly found on signs on swimming beaches, from excellent to poor. The largest discharges into bathing waters were made by United Utilities, which released raw sewage to sea baths in its area for nearly 75,000 hours. The most affected area by the company was Morecambe South Beach. Southern Water, which last year imposed a record 90 90m fine for dumping billions of gallons of raw sewage into the coastal waters of Hampshire and Kent, was responsible for 20,367 hours of raw sewage at designated offshore bathing sites. South West Water discharged sewage into bathing beauty spots for 43,901 hours, with the largest discharge being released at Ilfracombe Wildersmouth Beach, lasting 1,833 hours. The figures were released as the official sea swimming season opened on Sunday. This marks the beginning of the annual monitoring of bathing water quality, which helps to inform the public about the water on the beaches they visit. The season lasts until September. Tim Faron, the Liberal Democrats’ spokesman for rural affairs, said: “It’s time now or never to save families from swimming in water that has been polluted by sewage this summer. “Children should be free to enjoy Britain’s beautiful beaches and lakes, but conservative ministers are letting water companies get away with embarrassing sewage dumps. “This is an environmental scandal.” The figures came as many parts of the UK are preparing to go to the polls on Thursday to vote in local elections. Subscribe to the First Edition, our free daily newsletter – every morning at 7 p.m. BST The Liberal Democrats have demanded a sewage tax on the profits of water companies to be used to clean shores, rivers and lakes. Environment data show that in 2021 water companies released raw sewage into all of England’s coastal waters and rivers for more than 2.7 million hours. The Lib Dems said that in the same year the companies made operating profits of £ 2.8 billion and paid £ 27 million in bonuses to senior executives. Hugo Tagholm, chief executive of the Surfers Against Sewage charity campaign, said: “Water companies are escaping the blue murder – they are repeatedly dumping raw sewage into areas of special recreational interest, with apparent impunity. “Our large public who love the beach should not have to swim or surf the sewage, pathogens and medicines that are channeled through the pipes of the water company. Surfers Against Sewage has been challenging the water industry for decades, calling on them to put people and the planet ahead of excess profits and executive bonuses. We demand a new decade of ambition to clean and protect all our bathing waters and blue spaces “.
