BBC Newsround｜为什么未经处理的污水会进入我们的水源

A record amount of sewage was spilled into England's rivers and seas by water companies last year.
去年，自来水公司向英格兰河流和海洋排放的污水量创下了纪录。
But why is raw sewage allowed into our water in the first place?
但为什么首先允许未经处理的污水进入我们的水中呢?
Here's more.
还有更多。
We all contribute to raw sewage.
我们都对未经处理的污水做出了贡献。
It's what runs down our plug holes and flush down our toilets.
它会流进我们的塞孔并冲进我们的厕所。
This sewage travels through a series of pipes and tunnels before arriving at a treatment works.
这些污水在到达处理厂之前会经过一系列管道和隧道。
At treatment works, this dirty water is cleaned before it's released back into waterways like rivers.
在处理厂，这些脏水在被排放回河流等水道之前会被净化。
But sometimes water companies are allowed to release raw sewage back into the environment without it being cleaned.
但有时自来水公司被允许将未净化的污水排放回环境中。
This can happen during long periods of heavy rain.
这种情况可能发生在长时间的大雨期间。
This can help to protect houses and other properties from flooding and stop sewage rising back up into people's homes and onto the streets.
这可以帮助保护房屋和其他财产免受洪水侵袭，并阻止污水回流到人们的家中和街道上。
But the issue is, raw sewage can contain rubbish, as well as viruses and bacteria
但问题是，未经处理的污水可能含有垃圾以及病毒和细菌
That can be harmful to humans, animals and plant life.
这可能对人类、动物和植物有害。
The Environment Agency, who regulate how much sewage that water companies are allowed to put in the water, found that sewage was spilled for 3.6 million hours into rivers and seas in England last year.
负责监管自来水公司向水中排放多少污水的环境署发现，去年英国污水流入河流和海洋的时间长达 360 万小时。
That's more than double the amount from 2022.
与 2022 年相比，这一数字增加了一倍多。
Water UK, who represent water and sewage companies, says it's unacceptable, but they think the levels are due to more rain than usual.
代表供水和污水处理公司的英国水务公司表示，这是不可接受的，但他们认为水位升高是由于降雨量比平时更多。
But the Environment Agency says water companies still have a legal responsibility to manage serious overflows, despite the wet weather.
但环境局表示，尽管天气潮湿，自来水公司仍然有法律责任来管理严重的溢流。

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