More than 870 illegal sewage pipes could dump trash into our rivers and seas

A team from Channel 4's Dispatches has discovered that hundreds of illegal unlicensed pipes were potentially in use across the UK as the scale of the spill wastewater from water companies becomes clear.

Members of the Environment Agency take a water sample from Skelton Beck after a sewer pipe burst (

Image: Getty Images)

By

Amy-Clare MartinNews Reporter

Over 870 illegal sewage pipes can pollute water with sewage.

Investigators found those unlicensed and potentially in use included 184 with Welsh Water and 420 in Severn Trent.

Companies told the Channel 4 Dispatches investigation that they were working with the Environment Agency to ensure the proper permits were in place for any storm overflows.

Nick Voulvoulis, Professor of Environmental Technology at Imperial College London, said: "We use overflows in some cases when it's not raining or when it's not extreme rain. "

Demonstrators formed a human chain in Saltburn Beach, North Yorks, yesterday to protest sewage pollution.

It came as a whistleblower revealed the cuts had left the Environment Agency struggling to regulate businesses. Helen Nightingale, who recently retired from EA, said, "We're not as aggressive, we're not applying the same measure."

People hold hands in a 'human chain' along Saltburn Beach to protest the toxic sewage dumped into our seas (

Picture:

Getty Images)

EA's annual budget for the app has grown from £11.6m to £7m since 2010.

An EA spokesperson said it needs to prioritize because of this.

Regulator Ofwat has imposed £250million penalties over the past five years and said it takes its responsibilities seriously.