Recent data shows that in 2023, Anglian Water had the greatest increase in sewage spills of all the water companies, and it was Norfolk’s beaches that were the most severely impacted in the country.
Figures from the Environment Agency show untreated wastewater flowed directly into Norfolk’s coastal waters for more than 4,300 hours in 2023 – the equivalent of 179 days, or just shy of six months. Anglian Water cites higher rainfall as the reason.
The spills came from storm overflows, which dump sewage into rivers and the sea, supposedly only during periods of “unusually heavy rainfall”, to prevent the sewers from backing up and flooding. The data reveals which Norfolk beaches have been worst hit.
‘Environmental vandalism’
Caister-on-Sea, a major holiday destination, was the worst beach affected, with locals angry at what they say is a lack of action to address the problems. It has prompted calls from coastal councillors for the government to be tougher on the issue, described as “environmental vandalism”.
The shocking figures emerged in a huge release of national data from the Environment Agency, which said there was a total of 3.6 million hours of spills compared to 1.75 million hours in 2022 – more than twice as much.
Anglian Water (AW), which is responsible for much of the region’s sewer network, had the biggest increase of spills of all England’s water companies. A spokesperson for the company has said they are “disappointed to see our spill numbers have increased” but added the exceptionally wet weather in late 2023 compared to a much drier year previously had contributed to the stark increase.
Met Office data for East Anglia doesn’t bear this assertion out, however. Their figures show last year was around 10% wetter than 2022 (684mm of rain versus 752mm in 2023). Yet the region has seen double the rise in sewage discharges.
Norfolk coastal controversy
Sewage was released for 4,300 hours from 40 storm overflows around the Norfolk coast and at the mouths of coastal rivers in 2023. At Caister-on-Sea, sewage was released for more than 560 hours (nearly double that of 2022) during 106 spills, prompting fears from local parish councillors it could put people off swimming in the sea.
Kevin Wood, chairman of Caister Parish Council, described this as a “problem”, given the area is a holiday destination. “We have spoken with Anglian Water numerous times about the issue,” he says, “but nothing seems to get any better. It is a great disappointment that it continues.”
Other beaches that had high levels of sewage discharged include Mundesley (250 hours) and West Runton (150 hours).
In west Norfolk, sewage was released into the River Great Ouse for 2,387 hours from 13 overflows in King’s Lynn before then flowing into the Wash – an internationally important wetland environment.
‘Disgusting and unacceptable’
Rob Colwell, a Liberal Democrat King’s Lynn county councillor and parliamentary candidate for North West Norfolk, describes the sewage figures as “absolutely disgusting and unacceptable.”
He has been a long-time campaigner for cleaning up the Gaywood River, a rare chalk stream that has become clogged with sewage. In a message on X (formerly Twitter), he said: “We need a regulator with teeth to fine these water companies, ban bosses’ bonuses. Fix our infrastructure. Action now, not 2035 Tory policy.”
Other coastal communities that have been affected are Hunstanton, Burnham Overy and Wells, which saw a huge increase in the number of spills last year – more than a 1000% rise. In Great Yarmouth and Gorleston, overflows at the mouth of the River Yare, close to the two towns’ beaches, released sewage for 880 hours.
A £1 billion problem
Anglian Water has said it will invest £1bn in storm overflows and that it is working hard to drive down the number of spills. It hopes a £50m ‘spills taskforce’ will help tackle the problem. It has already invested £113m in Norfolk alone “in recent years”.
But Surfers Against Sewage, a national campaign group, believes the number of sewage spills is the result of years of “devastating underinvestment”. Josh Harris, head of communications, says it’s a sorry sight to see much-loved holiday destinations along the Norfolk coastline blighted by sewage pollution. “The water industry and government must put people and planet before profit,” he says, “and reverse the shameful decline of our seas as a matter of great urgency.”
‘Where has our money gone?’
Feargal Sharkey, the clean water campaigner, was on Good Morning Britain this week. He said:
Despite all the finger wagging by government, all the ‘cracking-down’ and ‘getting tough’, last year was actually the biggest year for sewage-dumping in this country. Ofwat have confirmed this should not be happening. We’ve paid these people all of the funding for 33 years. What we need to be asking them is where has our money gone and when are we going to get a refund?
Anglian Water was privatised debt-free, but its debt now runs to £6.6bn. The company has recently increased water bills by 12%. Last year, it paid £169m in dividends to its shareholders.
Based on a report from the Local Democracy Reporting Service
