The Environment Agency has published its Event Duration Monitoring data for 2022 with Wessex claiming that almost 91% of storm overflows in Wessex Area now fitted with monitoring devices required by the government 

. This includes data from all 10 water and sewerage companies (WaSCs) operating in England, with information on the frequency and duration of storm overflow spills.  

 Devices that monitor sewage spills are now installed in 90.9% of storm overflows in Wessex Area. 

 Event duration monitoring data were returned from 13,323 storm overflows nationally during 2022 – with the duration and frequency of sewage spills now monitored at 91% of storm overflows across the country. This is up from 12,707 in 2021 (equating to 89% coverage). 

 The government has instructed water companies to install monitors on all storm overflows by the end of this year.  

 While the data show a 19% reduction in the number of sewage spills nationally - down from 372,533 in 2021 to 301,091 spills in 2022 - this is largely due to last year's below average rainfall.  

In Wessex Area 1,182 of storm overflows have now been fitted with monitoring devices – up from 1,049 in 2021 and now covering 90.9% of storm overflows in the area (80.9% in 2021). 

 The national data show that in 2022: 

·       The average number of spills per storm overflow was 23, compared to 29 in 2021 

·      3% of storm overflows spilled more than 100 times, compared to 5% in 2021; and  

·      18% of storm overflows did not spill at all, compared to 13% in 2021.  

 The data shows that in 2022 in Wessex: 

·      The average number of spills per storm overflow was 18.5, compared to 22.4 in 2021; 

·      The total number of monitored spill events was 21,878, compared to 23,524 in 2021; 

·      The duration (hours) of monitored spill events in 2022 was 129,957, compared to 151,258 in 2021; 

·      1.0% of storm overflows spilled more than 100 times, compared to 1.9% in 2021; and  

·      16% of storm overflows did not spill at all, compared to 11.9% in 2021.  

The Environment Agency shares public concerns around storm overflows and is calling for urgent improvements in storm overflow maintenance, management and investment by water companies.  

Ian Withers, Wessex Area Environment Manager, said:  "While the data show a reduction in the number of sewage spills from Wessex Water in 2022, this is due to last year's below average rainfall. 

"Sewage pollution can be devastating to human health, local biodiversity and our environment. We need to see tangible progress from all water companies, including Wessex Water, on reducing spills and acting on monitoring data, and we will continue to hold them to account."