Writing on X, external, environmental campaigner Mark Barrow has been keeping count of the days since the discharge began.
“The area must be swamped in human waste,” he said.
“Can you imagine the state this area will be in.”
An Environment Agency spokesperson said: “We are investigating a report from a concerned member of the public regarding a combined sewer overflow in Atwick.
“Our team has instructed Yorkshire Water to provide important information and we will assess compliance with the company’s permit once this is received.”
Combined sewer overflows (CSO’s) are designed to be a “safety valve” to prevent water backing-up, external into people’s homes during heavy rainfall, according to the Environment Agency.
The CSO at the water treatment works at Atwick discharges into a network of small streams that eventually take water into the sea 3 miles (5km) north of the village.
Yorkshire Water’s data, external suggests the Atwick facility has been continually discharging for nearly 500 hours since 6 January.
A Yorkshire Water spokesperson said: “Our wastewater treatment works at Atwick deals with high flows of surface water from a culvert in the village which, during periods of heavy or prolonged rainfall, can lead to greater flows that the treatment works can handle.
“As a result, and to protect properties nearby, discharges occur into the nearby watercourse.
“This can last for a number of days while the catchment drains down from heavy rainfall.”
