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Water companies in England released raw sewage into rivers and seas for 48% fewer hours in 2025, according to a report from the Environment Agency, the government body responsible for overseeing the natural world. Officials attribute most of this improvement to drier weather conditions, while noting that new changes to the pipes played a much smaller role. Sewage is often released into rivers during heavy rainfall as a safety measure to prevent the underground system from becoming overwhelmed. If the system becomes too full, untreated water could back up and enter homes. Because there was significantly less rain in 2025, the need for these safety releases occurred less frequently.
Some environmental groups argue that these lower numbers do not prove the problem has been solved, maintaining that the issue remains unresolved. However, Water UK states that the country is beginning to see results from companies investing more heavily in better infrastructure. In 2025, there were 1.9 million hours of sewage spills, a significant drop from the 3.6 million hours recorded in 2024. England operates a combined sewage system, where rainwater and human waste travel through the same pipes. Old infrastructure, growing populations, and increasing heavy rainfall have pushed this system to its limit. Last year, rainfall was 24% lower than average, with the country experiencing one of its driest starts to the year on record.
James Wallace, CEO of the charity River Action, clarified the situation. "After one of the driest summers in decades, lower spill numbers were inevitable, not evidence of real change," he said. He added that water companies continue to make profits from pollution and noted that regulators have not done enough to address the root causes of the problem.
It is difficult to isolate exactly how much of the drop in spills was caused by reduced rainfall versus other factors, as the numbers depend on both the frequency and intensity of the rain. The Environment Agency emphasizes that steady investment is required to bring about lasting improvements; without it, these positive results may not endure. Water UK points out that the country is already seeing the impact of a significant increase in water company investment. In 2024, the regulator Ofwat agreed that water bills could rise over the next five years to fund an investment of £104 billion. This capital is essential for repairing old pipes and modernizing treatment plants.
Water UK highlighted specific companies as proof of progress: United Utilities upgraded more than 400 storm overflows in its area, and Yorkshire Water upgraded around 100 overflows in recent years. However, there are nearly 15,000 such overflows across the country, and fixing them all will require significant time and continued funding. Emma Hardy, the water minister, acknowledged the progress but warned that more work is needed. "It is good to see that storm overflow spills are down since the previous year, but there is still an unacceptable amount of sewage entering our waterways," she said, emphasizing that cleaning up the rivers, lakes, and seas is a long way off.