Water firms discharged raw sewage 300,000 times last year, court hears

Vast majority of releases were illegal, high court told - as Thames Water is fined 3.34m for sewage dumping in separate case

Water companies discharged raw sewage into rivers and seas via their storm overflows more than 300,000 times last year, according to new data presented to the high court. The new figures came as - in a separate hearing - Thames Water was fined 3.34m for sewage dumping.

The vast majority of the releases of raw sewage were illegal, the high court heard. The discharges had happened because of a lack of capacity at treatment works run by water companies and had been in breach of the law, it was told.