ENVIRONMENTAL group Surfers Against Sewage has published its annual water quality report and named the worst hit areas in Wales. It does not make for pleasant reading.

101,176 sewage discharges were recorded across Wales in 2025; equivalent to approximately 274 every day, or one every five minutes.

These discharges lasted a combined 822,265 hours, equivalent to almost 94 years of continuous sewage discharge.

Wales accounted for approximately 20 per cent of all recorded UK sewage discharges in 2025, despite having only 5 per cent of the UK’s population.

Wales accounted for approximately 27 per cent of the total recorded UK discharge duration.

27,683 discharges were recorded by Dŵr Cymru (Welsh Water) in the first six months of 2026, according to the report’s preliminary analysis.

More than 7,000 unpermitted sewage discharges occurred in Wales in 2025. The report describes these as discharges without the appropriate environmental permits.

827 Welsh Water overflows discharged sewage more frequently in 2025 than in 2024, despite 2025 being a substantially drier year across the UK.

Since 2019, Surfers Against Sewage has received 992 sickness reports from people in Wales, resulting in 2,258 days off work.

In 2025, there were 215 reports. Between January and August 2026, a further 187 reports were received.

Laura Anne Jones MS, Reform Shadow Cabinet Minister for Food, Farming and Agriculture, said: “These most recent figures are a disgrace.

“Years of neglect and underinvestment by Welsh Water have contributed to a failing infrastructure and exceptionally high levels of sewage dumping. Our waterways and beaches are some of the finest in the world, and everyone in Wales deserves to enjoy them unpolluted.

“Reform value our natural resources, we would review the current EU law and introduce a Welsh Rivers Act to protect our beautiful rivers and beaches.”

Of the sickness reports linked to designated bathing waters, 90% were associated with waters classified as Good or Excellent. The report also includes the top five bathing areas in Wales most impacted by sewage spills: Llyn Padarn, Swansea Bay, Llandudno West Shore, Llanfairfechan and Tywyn.

After swimming in the Taf Fechan in May 2026, 10-year-old Ollie spent 10 days in hospital and required seven days of strong antibiotics for a severe infection doctors attributed to sewage pollution.

Welsh Liberal Democrat Westminster Spokesperson David Chadwick MP said: “The fact that sewage was discharged into Welsh rivers and seas more than 100,000 times last year, including thousands of unpermitted discharges, should be a source of national embarrassment.

“People should be able to enjoy our rivers, lakes and beaches without worrying about sewage pollution or putting their health at risk.”

Mr Chadwick said the Welsh Liberal Democrats have been campaigning for cleaner waterways and greater accountability from water companies and regulators for years. He argued for proper investment, stronger independent regulation and real consequences for those responsible for pollution.

“The people of Wales deserve clean rivers and seas, and we will keep fighting until we have the regulation and accountability needed to deliver that.”