A new report by environmental charity Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) sheds light on widespread sewage pollution across the UK, documenting nearly 600,000 confirmed discharges into rivers, lakes, and coastal waters in 2024. The Water Quality Report 2025 presents a detailed analysis of water industry practices and their impact on public health and the environment, urging systemic reforms across the sector.
According to the report, the actual number of sewage spills may be closer to one million due to underreporting and a lack of monitoring infrastructure, particularly in Scotland and Northern Ireland. England recorded the highest number of confirmed discharges, while Northern Ireland monitors just 4.3% of its combined sewer overflows.
The report includes data from SAS’s Safer Seas & Rivers Service, which recorded 1,853 sickness reports in 2024 alone, attributed by respondents to exposure to polluted waters. Common health issues included gastrointestinal illnesses, skin infections, and respiratory problems. The economic impact of these sick days is estimated to exceed £493,000.
Case studies featured in the report describe serious health outcomes, including hospitalizations and long-term impacts on individuals' lives and livelihoods. One incident involved a swimmer contracting a life-threatening heart infection, believed to be linked to polluted sea water.
According to the report, the actual number of sewage spills may be closer to one million due to underreporting and a lack of monitoring infrastructure, particularly in Scotland and Northern Ireland
SAS criticizes the financial model of England’s water industry, which has paid out £74.2 billion in dividends since privatization, while accruing substantial debt and allegedly underinvesting in infrastructure improvements. The report calls for greater transparency, stronger regulatory enforcement, and investment in sustainable, nature-based water management solutions.
As public concern mounts, particularly ahead of upcoming elections in devolved administrations, the charity advocates for what it terms “transformational reform.” Its recommendations include legally binding health protections, democratic local governance of water systems, and the elimination of profit incentives tied to environmental performance.
The report concludes with a call to action, urging government bodies, regulators, and industry stakeholders to address what it describes as a persistent public health and environmental crisis.
A Water UK spokesperson responded to Surfers Against Sewage Water Quality Report: “We have been clear that the water system is not working and support the Independent Water Commission looking at every aspect of how the industry is regulated. No sewage spill is ever acceptable, and water companies are investing £12 billion to almost halve spills from storm overflows by 2030. This is part of the largest amount of money ever spent on the natural environment to help support economic growth, build more homes, secure our water supplies and end sewage entering our rivers and seas."
