A major new Unearthed investigation highlights how sewage is affecting nature. According to Greenpeace, the investigation has revealed that sewage poured into England and Wales’ most-precious conservation sites for more than 300,000 hours in 2022.

Over the past five months, Unearthed has been conducting an analysis of data on water companies’ sewage spills in sites of international scientific or conservation importance.

Using mapping analysis, they found almost 1,200 sewage overflow pipes that spilled in or close to internationally important habitats last year, all of which are supposed to be protected by formal conservation regimes.

The most heavily hit areas included some of the most scientifically important and well-known beauty spots in the UK, in places like the Lake District, the south west coast and Wales’ Brecon Beacons national park.

In Langstone Harbour, a designated ‘site of special scientific interest’ in Hampshire, they found that sewage spilled for 720 hours last year. Academics studying the impact of sewage spills into that harbour have found traces of ecstasy and cocaine, as well as painkillers, antibiotics, and antidepressants near the main sewage overflow pipe. They also found particularly high concentrations of ketamine, used as a recreational drug, in wildlife such as crabs, limpets, oysters, seaweed and ragworms.

Meanwhile, across the Solent and Dorset coast ‘special protection area’ sewage spilled for more than 14,000 hours last year, while in the Lake District’s iconic River Derwent and Bassenthwaite Lake ‘special area of conservation’ received more than 6,600 hours.

The work is covered by ITV News and picked up in The Times, and The Mirror.