Sewage Spills Today — England

Before you swim, paddle or let a dog in

• Avoid water downstream of an overflow that is discharging, and for 48 hours after heavy rain — sewage bacteria linger after a spill stops, longer in slow or tidal water.
• Keep cuts covered, do not swallow the water, shower afterwards and wash hands before eating.
• Stomach upset, ear or eye infection after swimming? Tell your GP you were in open water.
• See a discharge in dry weather, or sewage debris? Report it to the Environment Agency incident hotline, 0800 80 70 60 (24 hours).

What this page shows, and what it misses

Each storm overflow with an event duration monitor in England, as reported by the nine water and sewerage companies in near real time. "Discharging" means the monitor reports an active spill; it does not tell how much sewage, or whether it was permitted. Monitors fail and readings can be wrong — a spill that seems to run for weeks may be a stuck sensor, and offline monitors are counted separately. Overflows without a monitor are not included. Wales (Dŵr Cymru) and Scotland are not covered: their feeds carry no open licence.

Data: Storm Overflow Activity feeds of Anglian Water, Northumbrian Water, Severn Trent Water, South West Water, Southern Water, Thames Water, United Utilities, Wessex Water, Yorkshire Water, each licensed under CC BY 4.0. Shown as received; distances and durations are ours.