The amount of raw sewage being spilled into England’s waterways has hit a record high – more than doubling since last year.
  
Water companies are allowed to do this, but only in exceptional circumstances to prevent sewage washing back up into our homes.  

But, there’s growing evidence sewage is being routinely dumped by water firms when it’s not needed, polluting England’s waters more to the point where rowers in this year’s Oxford and Cambridge boat race have been warned not to go into the Thames. 
 
Customers could end up paying more too – as water companies in England and Wales want bills to increase to fund the necessary infrastructure upgrades.
  
On this edition of the Sky News Daily, Leah Boleto is joined by climate reporter Victoria Seabrook and business correspondent Paul Kelso to explain how England’s rivers and seas have got to this state and what this could mean for our water bills.   

Producer: Alex Edden 
Assistant producer: Iona Brunker  
Senior podcast producer: Annie Joyce 
Editor: Paul Stanworth