How to read an outlet record
Each outlet page joins one row of the official annual return to the latest company monitor report. Knowing what each field means helps you check it at the source.
What to do
Start with the year and the monitor operation figure. Then read the spill count and hours. Use the permit and activity references to find the same outlet in official records or in a request to the water company.
Operator and receiving water
The operator is the water company named in the annual return. The receiving water is the name the company gave for the water the outlet discharges into. We show it as recorded and only tidy its capitals.
Permit and activity reference
Storm overflows discharge under permits issued by the Environment Agency. The permit reference and activity reference identify the outlet in those records. Quote both if you contact the company or the regulator about an outlet.
Location
The marker uses the grid reference in the return, or checked monitor coordinates where a company feed supplies them. It shows where the outlet is recorded, not where a discharge spreads. Public access is unknown, so do not use it as a route.
Comparisons and trend
The page ranks the latest spill count against other outlets in England, the same company and, where there are enough outlets, the same waterbody. Equal counts share a rank. The chart shows each year in the return, with low-coverage years in amber.
The latest report
The live panel is separate from the annual figures. It shows the latest status the company feed gave and the time it applies to. Check that time before you rely on it.