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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Environment
Sandra Laville Environment correspondent

Raw sewage ‘pumped into English bathing waters 25,000 times in 2021’

Bathers off English coast
The publication of the figures follows the opening of the official sea-swimming season on Sunday. Photograph: Matt Cardy/Getty

Untreated sewage was discharged into England’s coastal bathing waters for more than 160,000 hours last year, according to figures collated by the Liberal Democrats to mark the start of the summer sea-swimming season.

Data compiled by the party using Environment Agency figures on 2021 discharges shows that water companies released raw sewage 25,000 times into designated bathing waters off the English coast.

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