Belaugh village records most sewage spills in Norfolk

Belaugh is a tiny village on the Norfolk Broads, popular with swimmers and paddleboarders

A small village on the Norfolk Broads has recorded more sewage spills into its water than anywhere else in the county, new figures reveal.

Environment Agency data showed wastewater flowed from an Anglian Water sewage treatment works in Belaugh into the River Bure for more than 2,000 hours in 2023.

This was almost three times the number of spills from the previous year.

Anglian Water said it was investing in ways of reducing those figures.

The spills came from storm overflows, which dump untreated sewage into rivers and the sea, usually during periods of heavy rainfall to stop sewers from backing up and flooding.

The second highest number was on the River Ant, between Horning and Ludham Bridge, with wastewater spilling for more than 1,700 hours.

Fran Whymark, Conservative leader of Broadland Council and a member of the Broads Authority, said: "People should be able to enjoy our rivers without spillages polluting them and posing a risk of serious harm.

"Anglian Water needs to look at how it can improve this so that people feel safe.

"It is just not good enough."

• Why is sewage released into rivers and the sea?

An Anglian Water spokeswoman said the company was "disappointed to see our spill numbers have increased", but added that the exceptionally wet weather in late 2023 - compared to a much drier year previously - had contributed to the stark increase.

She added: "We are confident that investments we've been making to reduce spills have moved the dial in the right direction and spills would have been considerably higher without it."