According to British Broadcaster, three water companies serving millions of households were today accused of illegally dumping sewage dozens of times

According to bbc investigations Southern Water,Thames, Wessex were found engaged in ‘dry spilling’ – the banned practice of discharging sewage into rivers and seas on days when it is not raining. It may be some 3,500 hours in whole year. Companies can release sewage into waterways to stop pipe systems becoming overwhelmed, but only when it has been raining.
This is because the sewage is unlikely to dilute without the rainwater.