13/05/2025
—- WHY ARE WE PROTESTING? —
In 2024 in England, a total of 450,398 discharges, or monitored spill events, were counted.
Untreated sewage was discharged for a record total of 3,614,427 hours through storm overflows – 8,558 hours more (0.22%) than last year.
On average, each overflow recorded 31.8 spills. In 2023, this was 33, 2022, this was 23, and in 2021, this was 29. The Government’s target for this is less than 10 per year.
On average, each overflow discharged for 8 hours each time a spill took place – slightly longer than 2023 (7.8h), and much longer than in 2022 (5.8h).
—- LOCAL STATS —-
Top local areas impacted by Wessex Water:
💩 AVON BEACH - 136 sewage dumps in 2024, 1106 hours duration - that’s 1.54 months, 2.7 times a week on average
💩 POOLE BAY - 110 sewage dumps in 2024, 593 hours duration - that’s 24.71 days, 2.1 times a week on average
💩 LULWORTH COVE - 58 sewage dumps in 2024, 643 hours duration - that’s 26.79 days, 1.1 times a week on average
I repeat - The Government’s target for this is LESS THAN 10 TIMES PER YEAR.
THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE! If these stats make you 🤢, join us on Saturday to stand up to Wessex Water for our beaches and our ocean. We want to make as much noise as possible to reach the government and influence change to the water industry.
The Boscombe paddle out is due to be one of the largest on this national day of action - you can help by showing up, sharing the event on your socials and sharing these stats to raise more awareness 🙏
