The Great British Sewage Dump

Water companies dump raw sewage at alarming rates.

Get full access to Reuters.com for just $1/week. Subscribe now. One Essential Read One Essential Read Recommended by Eve Watling, Picture Editor Britain's sewage spills are toxic for the economy   Sea water drips off mussels and starfish on part of Europe's largest offshore mussel farm, off the Devon coast. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez Britain's sewage system discharges untreated sewage into rivers and seas at alarming rates, while water bills continue to rise. Speak to people living by seas and rivers and you'll find despair over the apparent lack of investment by private water companies, and confusion over why nothing seems to be able to stop the endless flow of sewage. This story also looks at the impact the issue has on British businesses that rely on clean seas. They now find themselves hampered by what should be a fixable problem, emblematic of the broader issue of why Britain's creaking infrastructure harms economic growth. Read the photo essay Behind the news This story was photographed by Dylan Martinez, who travelled across the UK to find out how sewage spills affect different communities. He realised quickly that much sewage is invisible, creating a challenge for a photographer. He came up with a unique creative solution to visualise the pollution, thanks to an analogue camera and a five-litre bottle of sewage-contaminated water. Sponsors are not involved in the creation of newsletters or other Reuters news content. Advertise in this newsletter or on Reuters' website Reuters One Essential Read is sent three days a week. Think your friend or colleague should know about us? Forward this newsletter to them. They can also sign up here. Want to stop receiving this email? Unsubscribe here. To manage which newsletters you're signed up for, click here. Terms & Conditions and Privacy Statement © 2025 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved. 3 Times Square, New York, NY 10036