Yorkshire Water pumped sewage into bathing waters for almost 8,000 hours in 2025

The figures from the Environment Agency, compiled by the Liberal Democrats, are a “national scandal”, according to party leader Sir Ed Davey.

They show that last year 1,814 incidents pumped sewage into designated bathing spots from 7,968 hours.

While this is a reduction on 2024, it is still much higher than 2021 and 2022.

This contributed to swimming not being advised at Yorkshire’s three rivers with designated bathing water status - Ilkley Beach and the Wilderness site on the Wharfe, and Knaresborough Lido, on the Nidd.

Ilkley Beach was the first river in the country to be granted bathing water status in 2020, however since then the quality has been rated as poor year.

However, in testing carried out between May and September, the EA found high levels of both E.coli and intestinal enterococci.

The latest data showed that more than 1,000 hours - the equivalent of 41 days - of sewage was pumped into the Wharfe near Ilkley Beach from multiple different water treatment plants.

Similar amounts of sewage was also pumped into Scarborough North Bay.

Overflows are used in rivers and seas during heavy rainfall when sewage systems are over capacity, to prevent water and pollution flooding homes and streets.

However an investigation by The Times claimed that Yorkshire Water was also discharging sewage during dry periods.

The firm apologised for the figures, with a spokesperson saying: “People are rightly concerned about water quality in their rivers and coast, and we’re sorry for the impact that combined sewer overflows have on bathing waters.

“Yorkshire Water knows that historic performance has not been good enough and our focus is on delivering improvements, transparently and at pace.

“We’re making the biggest investment in our history – £8.3bn over the next five years – to reduce pollution, leakage, and protect Yorkshire’s rivers and coasts.

“A key part of this programme is tackling storm overflows, with a further £1.5bn investment plan in place between 2025 and 2030, to tackle more than 450 overflows across the region.”

Sir Ed Davey said: “Our rivers and beaches are the pride of Britain — but this bank holiday, families are being forced to check whether their water company has dumped sewage nearby before letting their children swim.

“It's a national scandal. Parents shouldn't have to worry about their kids getting sick just for playing outside in the sunshine.

“Labour and the Conservative Party have ignored our communities while water companies poison our rivers and get away with it. The Liberal Democrats will not rest until this scandal is finally sorted.”

Water Minister Emma Hardy said: “We’ve banned unfair bonuses and introduced landmark legislation to hold water companies to account, and our long-term reforms will mean there is a new, single regulator focused on preventing problems before they occur.”