An investigation has found that hundreds of discharge pipes across the UK are potentially illegally dumping raw sewage into the country's waterways.
There are more than 870 pipes which could be operating without permits, of which more than 200 are confirmed to be in use by water companies, according to findings from Channel 4's Dispatches programme. Permits are almost always required for firms to spill untreated sewage into rivers and seas when rainfall is high to prevent sewers from becoming overloaded and backing up into homes.
The investigation found that Northumbrian Water has 61 pipes without permits, all of which are being used. The company told PA News Agency these outfalls operate, and their performance is reported to the Environment Agency in "exactly the same way as any other."
