Discover the alarming frequency of sewage spills into Somerset’s waterways in 2024 with a total of 20,181 incidents, averaging at 55 per day - an increase from the previous year. These spills added up to a staggering 182,500 hours of pollution, caused by both treated and untreated sewage entering the rivers and streams.
The majority of dumping points are under continuous monitoring, with the data on spill frequency and duration reported annually. While the overall number of spills decreased for England and Wales, the combined duration of last year’s spills amounted to 4.55 million hours, equating to over 520 years of continuous flow.
In Somerset, the Chew Stoke Walley Court Road Storm Tank was the top culprit, with 258 spills into the River Chew lasting a total of 4,642 hours. The Tatworth sewage treatment works, Brompton Regis, Wookey Storm Tank, and Fivehead Storm Tank also contributed significant spill hours.
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The statistics reveal that Salcombe Regis in Devon held the title for the most active spill point in 2024, open constantly for a total of 8,773 hours. South West Water, responsible for the site, is investigating the excessive spills and attributing them to unauthorised connections to the sewer network and high levels of additional flows.
Meanwhile, a storm overflow into the River Lavant and Wessex Water’s Hurdcott Storm Tank secured positions as the second and third most active spill sites in the country, highlighting the widespread issue of river pollution.
As concerns about the environmental impact of sewage spills grow, it is crucial for authorities to take immediate action to minimize the detrimental effects on water ecosystems and public health.