Southend-on-Sea (Yui Mok/PA)
(Picture: PA Wire)After the extensive heatwaves, it might feel tempting to take a dip in the sea. However, we hate to break it to you, but vast swathes of UK beaches have been pumped full of sewage.
Yes, really.
Surfers Against Sewage has reported storm discharge has blighted waters in Sussex, Cornwall, Devon, Essex, Lancashire, Lincolnshire, Northumberland and Cumbria.
The charity received the data from water companies, whose data showed sewage had been discharged from Monday after wet weather interrupted a heatwave.
Hugo Tagholm, chief executive of Surfers Against Sewage, said: “While the Government has shelved the publication of the promised and long-awaited sewage action plan, the industry has reverted to type, pumping and dumping as soon as rain hits.
“Our rivers and beaches are once again treated as open sewers… Our rivers and beaches should not be subject to this type of industrial environmental vandalism.”
The majority of the 50-odd beaches impacted are on the south coast, where Southern Water is one of the water companies responsible, along with Wessex Water and South West Water.
A spokesperson for Southern Water said: “[The] thunderstorms brought heavy rain which fell on to parched ground and couldn’t absorb surface run-off, meaning that more rain than usual overwhelmed our network.
“This led to some overflows – which are used to protect homes, schools, businesses and hospitals from flooding – spilling excess water into the sea.”
The Environmental Agency can wield special powers in extreme conditions, and one of those is releasing sewage into rivers and streams, which is due to prolonged heavy rain.
What releasing the sewage does is protect other buildings and homes from floods, however, it also has negative impacts on the overall environment.
There are a number of warnings in place regards which beaches to avoid, however, some have fully closed following the news.
Speaking about the leak, a spokesperson for Southern Water said they’re “deeply sorry” and that they understand the “distress” that it’s caused.
Here are all the beaches that have closed in the UK due to sewage.
Which beaches are closed in the UK due to sewage?
- Bognor Regis, West Sussex
- Newquay, Cornwall
- East Looe, Cornwall
- Heacham, Norfolk
- Rest and Sandy Bay (Porthcawl), Bridgend
- Morecambe North, Lancashire
- Cowes, Isle of Wight
- Robin Hood’s Bay, North Yorkshire
- Sidmouth Town, Devon
- Shoreham Beach, West Sussex
- Southend-on-Sea, Essex
Which areas are currently unsafe?
Cheshire
- Dee River - Pollution Alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours
Cumbria
- Allonby - Pollution Risk Warning: Bathing not advised today due to the likelihood of reduced water quality
- Walney Biggar Bank - Pollution Alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours
- Walney Sandy Gap - Pollution Alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours
- Walney West Shore - Pollution Alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours
Kent
- Herne Bay Central - Pollution Alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours and bathing not advised today due to the likelihood of reduced water quality
- Tankerton - Pollution Alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours and bathing not advised today due to the likelihood of reduced water quality
Lancashire
- Morecambe North - Pollution Alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours and bathing not advised today due to the likelihood of reduced water quality
- Morecambe South - Pollution Alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours and bathing not advised today due to the likelihood of reduced water quality
Lincolnshire
- Cleethorpes - Pollution Alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours
Merseyside
- Southport - Pollution Risk Warning: Bathing not advised today due to the likelihood of reduced water quality
South Devon
- Goodrington - Pollution Risk Warning: Bathing not advised today due to the likelihood of reduced water quality.
- Paignton Sands - Pollution Risk Warning: Bathing not advised today due to the likelihood of reduced water quality.
- Paignton Preston Sands - Pollution Risk Warning: Bathing not advised today due to the likelihood of reduced water quality.
Tyne and Wear
- Tynemouth Cullercoats - Bathing not advised due to Poor annual classification
Yorkshire
- Marske Sands - Pollution Alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours
- Redcar Coatham - Pollution Alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours
- Redcar Lifeboat Station - Pollution Alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours
- Robin Hood’s Bay - Pollution Risk Warning: Bathing not advised today due to the likelihood of reduced water quality
- Saltburn - Pollution Alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours
Durham
- Seaton Carew Centre - Pollution Risk Warning: Bathing not advised today due to the likelihood of reduced water quality
- Seaton Carew North - Pollution Risk Warning: Bathing not advised today due to the likelihood of reduced water quality
