High Spen SPS
Storm overflow operated by Northumbrian Water. The source names Barlow Burn as the receiving water.
- 33
- Spills in 2025
- 37.4
- Recorded hours
- 96.8%
- Monitor operation
- 2
- Years listed
Checking the latest monitor report…
How it compares in 2025
High Spen SPS recorded 33 spills in 2025. That is more than 77% of the 14,239 overflows in England with a reported figure, and ranks 3,116th nationally. Among Northumbrian Water overflows it ranks 295th of 1,559; the median Northumbrian Water overflow recorded 11 spills. On the Blaydon Burn waterbody it ranks 1st of 6.
| Group | Rank by spills | Median spills | Median hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| This outlet | – | 33 | 37.4 |
| England | 3,116th of 14,239 | 11 | 22.3 |
| Northumbrian Water | 295th of 1,559 | 11 | 15.6 |
| Blaydon Burn | 1st of 6 | 0.5 | 0 |
Rank 1 has the most spills. Equal counts share a rank. Only overflows with a reported count are ranked. Counts do not measure volume, so a higher rank does not mean more sewage.
Annual spill history
| Year | Spills | Duration | Monitor operation | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 33 | 37.4 hours | 96.8% | Official data |
| 2024 | 22 | 5.1 hours | 72%Low coverage | Official data |
A missing figure means the source did not provide a usable value. A zero is shown as zero. Monitor operation below 90% can make comparison less reliable.
Outlet details
- Water company
- Northumbrian Water
- Outlet type
- Storm discharge at a pumping station
- Permit
- 233/1162
- Activity reference
- A1
- Grid reference
- NZ1403660565
- Waterbody ID
- GB103023074791Official waterbody record ↗
- Location source
- Official annual grid reference
- Location precision
- About 1 metres
- Location note
- Unknown
About the name and type
The annual return lists this asset as “Storm discharge at pumping station”: storm discharge at a pumping station. The overflow is at a pumping station that moves sewage through the network.
The waterbody link opens the Environment Agency record for the exact ID in the return. It is a source lookup; we do not import its classification.
Where it is
The recorded position is about 0.6 km north of the High Spen reference point in the ONS built-up areas data.
Area and water pages
- Whickham area →
- Sunniside area →
- Burnopfield area →
- Hobson area →
- Tanfield Lea area →
- Tantobie area →
- Blaydon area →
- Rowlands Gill area →
- Hamsterley Mill area →
- High Spen area →
- Newburn area →
- Walbottle area →
- Ryton area →
- Chopwell area →
- Dipton area →
- Annfield Plain area →
- Blackhall Mill area →
- Blaydon Burn waterbody →
Check the official record
Public access to this outlet is unknown. Do not enter restricted land or use this page as a route guide.
Open official source ↗Other outlet records nearby
- High Spen CSO Strothers RoadCurrent status unknown
Northumbrian Water · A Tributary of Barlow Burn
- High Spen CSO Rowlands Gill 6Current status unknown
Northumbrian Water · Unnamed Tributary of Spen Burn
- Ash Tree Lane CSOCurrent status unknown
Northumbrian Water · Spen Burn
- East Farm CSOCurrent status unknown
Northumbrian Water · Barlow Burn
Questions about High Spen SPS
- Who operates High Spen SPS?
- Northumbrian Water is the operator named in the annual record. The permit reference is 233/1162.
- Where does High Spen SPS discharge?
- The source names Barlow Burn as the receiving water. This does not show how far a discharge travelled.
- How many times did High Spen SPS spill in 2025?
- The 2025 return records 33 counted spill events and 37.4 hours of recorded discharge. Spills are counted with the 12/24-hour method, so this is not a count of every start signal.
- Can I trust the 2025 figures for this outlet?
- The monitor worked for 96.8% of the reporting period, so the annual figures cover most of the year. They still do not measure discharge volume.
- Is High Spen SPS discharging right now?
- This record is linked to a company live feed. The panel above shows the latest report we hold, with its date. That report can be old, and the monitor can be offline, so check the date before relying on it. A report that no discharge is taking place is not a water-quality result.
- How accurate is the map marker?
- The marker comes from the grid reference in the official annual return, which is accurate to about 1 metres. It shows the recorded outlet position, not the extent of any discharge.
- What kind of outlet is High Spen SPS?
- The annual return lists the asset type as “Storm discharge at pumping station”, which means storm discharge at a pumping station. The overflow is at a pumping station that moves sewage through the network.
- How does High Spen SPS compare with other overflows?
- High Spen SPS recorded 33 spills in 2025. That is more than 77% of the 14,239 overflows in England with a reported figure, and ranks 3,116th nationally. Among Northumbrian Water overflows it ranks 295th of 1,559; the median Northumbrian Water overflow recorded 11 spills. On the Blaydon Burn waterbody it ranks 1st of 6. Ranks compare counted spill events only. They do not compare volume or harm.
- Does zero spills mean the water was safe?
- No. A zero means the annual return recorded zero counted spill events for this outlet and year. It is not a water-quality test, and pollution can come from other sources.