England sewage spills nearly halved in 2025, mostly linked to drier weather

The Environment Agency reported raw sewage was spilled for 1.9 million hours in England in 2025, down 48% from 2024, and said much of the reduction is attributable to drier weather rather than infrastructure upgrades.

England saw a large drop in the hours of raw sewage released into rivers and seas in 2025, the Environment Agency reported. The regulator said most of the improvement is linked to drier weather and lower rainfall last year. Water industry groups pointed to rising investment and upgrades as contributing factors. The agency also published, for the first time, data on dry spills and said it is investigating those incidents. Key points: - The Environment Agency reported sewage was spilled for 1.9 million hours in 2025, down from 3.6 million hours in 2024, a reduction of about 48%. - The regulator attributed much of the drop to 24% lower rainfall and drier conditions, rather than primarily to infrastructure changes. - The agency published data showing 14,700 dry spills in 2025 and announced it is investigating those events. - Water UK said the country was "starting to see the effect of a tripling of water company investment" and cited specific upgrades by some companies. - In 2024 the regulator Ofwat agreed that bills could rise to fund about £104bn of infrastructure investment over the next five years, and water companies paid £6.9m in fines for environmental law breaches in the prior year. Summary: The reported decline in spill hours reduced the measurable time raw sewage entered waterways in 2025, but the Environment Agency framed the change largely as a result of drier weather rather than completed system improvements. The agency said sustained investment will be needed for lasting change, and it is investigating the newly reported dry spills; Undetermined at this time.