Report water pollution in England

Use this service to report water pollution in:

• rivers or the sea
• lakes or reservoirs
• canals
• smaller streams or watercourses (for example, a brook or culvert)  

Water pollution can include:

• sewage
• waste, spills or leaks from farms
• waste, spills or leaks from factories or other industry
• spills or leaks from objects 

There’s a different way to report water pollution in Scotland, report water pollution in Wales or report water pollution in Northern Ireland.

Before you start 

You’ll need to know:

• where the pollution is
• when you noticed it

You’ll need to give the location of the pollution, either by describing where it is or using the map in the service.

You only need to give your personal details if you’re happy to be contacted for more information.

If you want to send photos, you’ll need to provide your email address.

You cannot use this service to report rubbish in water. Report this to your local council.

Report water pollution by phone

If you’re unable to use the online service, you can call the Environment Agency.

Environment Agency incident hotline
Telephone: 0800 80 70 60
24-hour service
Find out about call charges

After you make your report  

The Environment Agency will review your report and decide if any action is needed.

You will not get updates on your report.

Report other problems with your environment

How you report other environmental problems depends on the type of issue and where it is. You may have to report it to:

• the Environment Agency
• your local council
• your utilities company

Find out how to report an environmental incident.