Fresh wave of sewage pollution hits Britain’s beaches
Pollution warnings are in place for more than 100 British beaches after untreated sewage was discharged into the sea.
The warnings appear on the Safer Seas and Rivers Service, run by the charity Surfers Against Sewage (SAS), and are based on water firms’ data.
Discharges are allowed for example after heavy rainfall, to stop the sewage system from being overwhelmed.
But there is mounting public anger at their impacts on rivers and beaches.
SAS Chief Executive Hugo Tagholm said that the discharges came after just the “slightest hint” of rain.
He criticized the water companies’ use of combined sewer overflows, which are designed to release sewage and rainwater in times of extremely heavy rain.
“Do they think this is a joke? Do they not realize how much anger there is about their profiteering and pollution?” he said.
In parliament, Green Party MP Caroline Lucas urged the government to “cut the crap” and return the “failing” water industry to public hands.
Over the last 24 hours, one company – Southern Water (SW) – has discharged untreated sewage into almost 30 bathing sites, including the popular resorts of Bognor Regis, Hastings, and Cowes.
SW’s data also show it has released untreated water on 95 occasions since the beginning of September. Two storm discharge pipes, at Southsea East and Stokes Bay, were discharged for more than 24 hours.
By law, these kinds of sewage discharges are legal only in “exceptional” circumstances.
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