Water companies have vowed to take substantial measures to curb the shocking levels of raw sewage being discharged into the waterways of northern Lincolnshire. Recent data from the Environment Agency reveals that in 2024, England saw a record 3.61 million hours of raw sewage spilling into seas and rivers. The amount of sewage directly entering the Laceby Beck, a chalk stream in North East Lincolnshire, spiked last year, leading to increased concern about the threat to local wildlife and swimmers. Last year, the Laceby water recycling centre, managed by Anglian Water, discharged sewage 113 times for a staggering 1,198.50 hours. In contrast, in 2023, the centre, along with another overflow, spilled 142 times for 1,063 hours. Anglian Water has responded to this crisis, outlining a five-year business plan that includes a £1bn investment to tackle storm overflows, and an £11bn overall investment to improve their performance. Meanwhile, Severn Trent Water has also pledged improvements, having installed more than 1,500 improvements to storm overflows in the last year, and planning 600 more projects by autumn. Both companies point towards the record rainfall in 2024 as a contributing factor to the increased spills, and are looking towards technological solutions such as AI sewer monitors to predict and prevent future blockages.
This story was adapted by The Lincoln Post from original reporting by www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk.
