The sudden heavy thunderstorms that erupted this week throughout the UK following the second main heatwave of the summer time has resulted in a surge in sewage discharges alongside Britain’s seashores, in accordance with clear water campaigners.
Surfers for Sewage has warned swimmers to keep away from bathing off 50 of Britain’s hottest seaside cities, significantly alongside the south coast, saying the likes of Bognor Regis, Yarmouth, Southend-on-Sea, Exmouth, Budleigh Salterton and Newquay are presently rife with air pollution.
The group has produced an interactive map to assist its findings and allow locals and vacationers to examine whether or not their favorite bays and wonder spots have been affected.
You will discover it right here.
The map reveals air pollution threat warnings in place in dozens of places across the nation, from Cornwall and Devon to Sussex, Essex, Lancashire, Lincolnshire, Northumberland and Cumbria.
The Setting Company (EA) permits water corporations to launch sewage into Britain’s seas, rivers and streams within the aftermath of maximum climate occasions, akin to Tuesday’s extended rainfall, so as to forestall drains from overflowing, to guard properties from flooding and stop effluent backing up into streets and houses.
Sewage was dumped into rivers and the coasts round 375,000 instances final yr, in accordance with the EA’s personal figures, however the authorities has stated it hopes to scale back discharges into bathing waters by 70 per cent by 2035.
“We publish day by day air pollution threat forecasts all through the showering season through the EA’s Swimfo web site to point when bathing water high quality could also be quickly diminished attributable to elements akin to heavy rainfall, wind or the tide,” an EA spokesperson stated.
“The present threat of floor water flooding reinforces the necessity for strong motion from water corporations to scale back discharges from storm overflows. We’re monitoring the present state of affairs and supporting native authorities the place wanted.”
You’ll be able to try the Swimfo website right here.
A viral video apparently filmed at Seaford in east Sussex did a lot to attract consideration to the apply of overflow discharges this week, prompting native councillor Matthew Chook to denounce it as a “new low” and “actually surprising and disheartening” and to conclude that “our water infrastructure is just not match for function”.
For its half, Southern Water, one of many corporations chargeable for a few of the worst affected areas, stated: “There have been thunderstorms accompanied by heavy rain the evening earlier than final and yesterday [Tuesday]. Storm releases have been made to guard properties, faculties and companies from flooding. The discharge is 95-97 per cent rainwater and so shouldn’t be described as uncooked sewage.
“We all know prospects don’t like that the business has to depend on these [discharges] to guard them, and we’re pioneering a brand new strategy.”
A spokesperson for Wessex Water stated: “Whereas it’s extraordinarily uncommon for storm overflows to trigger a sewage air pollution incident, we’re dedicated to fully eliminating the discharge of any untreated sewage.
“Each month we’re investing £3m to scale back storm overflows, beginning with these which discharge most ceaselessly or which have any environmental affect.”
Welsh Water added: “Regardless of the widespread rain, solely two of our mixed storm overflows [CSOs] operated at designated bathing waters.
“The spills have been compliant with our allow to function them and, as we all the time do with these CSOs, we despatched notifications to Surfers In opposition to Sewage in order that they have been conscious and will notify their members.”
