Thames Water's raw sewage discharges surged 50% in 2024

Thames Water has reported a significant increase in raw sewage discharges into rivers in England. In 2024, the company released raw sewage for almost 300,000 hours, a 50% rise from 2023. This equates to around 196,000 hours of raw effluent being dumped the year before. The data reveals that many sewage treatment works contributed to the problem. For instance, the Amersham facility in Buckinghamshire was responsible for over 4,800 hours of direct sewage discharge. This site recorded one of the longest continuous spills, releasing sewage into the River Misbourne for a total of 154 days last year. In response to the crisis, Thames Water is seeking to raise household bills by 59% over the next five years. This request is higher than the 35% approved by regulators. The company cited the need for investment to address its aging infrastructure, long neglected due to underfunding. Environment Secretary Steve Reed aims to reduce sewage spills in rivers. He has set a goal for water companies to limit discharges to an average of 10 spills per overflow by 2050, a stark contrast to the 45.2 spills recorded recently. Environmental groups have criticized Thames Water for its reliance on these discharges and its lack of timely responses to the pollution crisis. Some spills may have occurred illegally, as they happened on dry days, which violates permits for operating. Thames Water acknowledged the issue, attributing some discharges to heavy rainfall in 2024 and asserting that they realize the importance of clean rivers. They plan to invest heavily in fixing their outdated sewage systems to prevent future pollution.