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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Environment
Helena Horton

Water chiefs blame UK government for failure to stop sewage pollution

A protester’s placard at a demo on Tankerton beach in Whitstable in October against releases of untreated sewage by Southern Water.
A protester’s placard at a demo on Tankerton beach in Whitstable in October against releases of untreated sewage by Southern Water. Photograph: Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty Images

Water company bosses have blamed UK government inaction for a lack of progress in stopping sewage pollution, newly revealed letters show.

According to data from the Environment Agency, sewage has been dumped into the seas and rivers around the UK more than 770,000 times over the course of 2020 and 2021 – the equivalent of almost 6m hours.

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