The new funding commitments are in addition to water companies’ existing £3.1bn investment into storm overflow improvements for this price review period (2020-2025), as well as their ongoing annual investment to maintain the performance of the existing network.

Examples of measures include accelerated wetland construction programmes, investment in AI systems to help manage storm loads, the installation of thousands of new in-sewer monitors to check flows and spot blockages early and the recruitment and training of specialist staff.

Environment Secretary Steve Barclay said: “The amount of sewage being spilled into our rivers is completely unacceptable and the public rightly expects action.

“This £180 million of accelerated investment, which will stop more than 8,000 sewage spills over the next year, is a welcome step forward as we continue to push for better performance from water companies and hold them to account.”