Campaign group Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) has created an interactive map of the UK coastline showing pollution risk warnings at dozens of locations. Spots across the south coast, including Bognor Regis, Yarmouth, Exmouth and Newquay, have been affected just as families enjoy their summer holidays and recent cold temperatures. A map from Surfers Against Sewage shows water companies have dumped sewage across the country (Anti Sewage Surfer) The Environment Agency (EA) has issued pollution warnings across the country. One of north Devon’s most popular beaches, Saunton Sands, has been declared unsafe for swimming due to ‘sewage pollution’. Companies dumped raw sewage into rivers in England more than 400,000 times last year, according to EA figures. “During the swimming season, daily pollution risk forecasts are made for some bathing waters where water quality may be temporarily reduced by factors such as heavy rainfall, wind or tides,” a spokesman said. Have you been influenced by this story? If so, please email [email protected] The EA allows water utilities to release sewage into rivers and streams after extreme weather events such as prolonged heavy rainfall to protect properties from flooding and prevent sewage from backing up on roads and homes. But until this week, the UK had been dry for more than a month and a spokeswoman for SAS said other pollution warnings in place may not be linked to the heavy rain. He advised those visiting the coast to check the SAS website before swimming. Coasts along southern England have been particularly affected by pollution (Anti Sewage Surfer) In a viral video posted on Twitter, sewage can be seen in the sea at Seaford in East Sussex. The gray polluted water creates a clear dividing line where it meets the unpolluted seawater. Protesters march from Fistral Beach, Newquay, as they take part in a National Day of Action on Sewage Pollution coordinated by Surfers Against Sewage (PA) Martyn Craddock, who posted the video, wrote: “Raw sewage was pumped into the sea today at Seaford, East Sussex after a storm. Yes… this is a marine protected area. Decades of 1000 swims here just yesterday. Horrific.” Southern Water, one of the companies responsible for some of the worst-hit areas, said in a statement: “There were thunderstorms accompanied by heavy rainfall last night and yesterday. “Storm releases were put in place to protect homes, schools and businesses from flooding. “The release is 95-97 percent stormwater and therefore should not be described as raw sewage. “We know customers don’t like that the industry has to rely on them [discharges] to protect them and we are pioneering a new approach.”
