What is raw sewage doing to the UK’s rivers and seas?

Holidaymakers heading to British beaches and rivers were faced with
a very unpleasant problem this summer – raw sewage. The sewage
system usually carries rainwater and dirty wastewater from
bathrooms and kitchens to treatment works but during ‘exceptional
events’ such as heavy rainfall, when it is likely to be
overwhelmed, raw sewage can be diverted and discharged into rivers
and seas. Available data shows that in 2021, water companies
released untreated sewage into waterways for 2.7m hours – with many
discharge pipe monitors not working or left uninstalled. Madeleine
Finlay speaks to reporter Helena Horton about why this is
happening, and the damage it is doing to the environment, our
health, and the UK’s seafood industry. Help support our independent
journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod