Water companies in England failed to report more than 50,000 sewage spills within the time required by law in the first half of 2026, according to a landmark analysis by an environmental charity.
Surfers Against Sewage made the accusation in its 2026 Water Quality Report, published on 7 October, describing it as a first-of-its-kind analysis based on freedom of information data. The charity alleged that more than 4,000 of the delayed reports affected designated bathing waters, areas officially recognised for swimming and monitored by the Environment Agency.
By law, water companies are only allowed to discharge sewage through storm overflows during heavy rainfall. But the report claimed that sewage was discharged for at least 70,400 hours on dry days in the first six months of the year, suggesting widespread flouting of the rules.
The charity also said its Safer Seas and Rivers Service app had received 1,687 reports from people who said they became ill after using rivers, lakes and beaches between January and August this year. It calculated that 5,222 working days, or around 20 years of full-time working days, had been lost as a result. During what was the UK's hottest summer on record, 787 people reported getting sick during the heatwaves between May and August.
Surfers Against Sewage chief executive Giles Bristow said: 'Imagine checking for a sewage alert, heading out for a swim or a surf, and finding sewage has been pouring into the sea for hours. Your water company didn't report it. In England, we don't have to imagine it. We're living it.'
The accusation has been disputed. Yorkshire Water, which the report claimed failed to publish discharge data in time for more than 13,000 sewage discharges, questioned the charity's research methods. The industry has long argued that its reporting systems are improving and that the data does not always reflect real-time conditions in the water.
The report lands at a moment of intense scrutiny for the water industry, which has faced public fury over a combination of sewage pollution, rising bills and executive pay. Regulators are under pressure to tighten reporting obligations and penalties. Surfers Against Sewage argues that without accurate, timely alerts, swimmers and surfers cannot make informed decisions about when it is safe to enter the water. The industry's response in the coming weeks will be watched closely by campaigners and ministers alike.
The report also revealed stark regional disparities, with some companies performing far worse than others on timely reporting. Campaigners argue that without real-time, accurate data, bathers cannot make informed choices about entering the water. The Environment Agency monitors designated bathing waters but has faced criticism for limited enforcement resources. Ministers have promised tougher penalties for polluters, though campaigners say reform has been slow. Surfers Against Sewage said it would continue publishing its analysis annually, warning that public trust in the industry had collapsed.