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Sewage polluting Britain’s beaches as swimmers warned to stay out of water at 50 seaside hotspots

wimmers are being warned to stay out of the water at more than 50 of Britain’s beaches as water companies pump sewage into the sea.

Campaign group Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) has created an interactive map of the UK coastline which shows pollution risk warnings in place in dozens of locations.

Spots all along the south coast, including Bognor Regis, Yarmouth, Exmouth, and Newquay, have all been impacted just as families enjoy summer holidays and the recent sweltering temperatures. 

A map from Surfers Against Sewage shows were water companies have discharged sewage across the country (Surfers Against Sewage)© Provided by The Independent

The Environment Agency (EA) has issued pollution alerts across the country. One of north Devon’s most popular beaches, Saunton Sands, was classified as unsafe to swim in due to “pollution from sewage”.

Companies discharged raw sewage into rivers in England more than 400,000 times last year, according to EA figures.

“Throughout the bathing season, daily pollution risk forecasts are made for a number of bathing waters where water quality may be temporarily reduced to factors, such as heavy rainfall, wind or the tide,” a spokesperson said.

The EA allows water utilities to release sewage into rivers and streams after extreme weather events, such as prolonged heavy rain to protect properties from flooding and prevent effluent backing up into streets and homes.

But until this week, the UK has been bone dry for more than a month and a spokeswoman for SAS said other pollution warnings in place may not be linked to heavy rain. She advised those visiting the coast to check the SAS website before they swim.

The coast along the south of England has been particularly affected by pollution (Surfers Against Sewage)© Provided by The Independent

In one viral video posted to Twitter, sewage can be seen in the sea at Seaford in east Sussex.

The grey polluted water creates a clear dividing line where it meets the unpolluted sea water. 

Campaigners march from Fistral Beach, Newquay, as they take part in a National Day of Action on Sewage Pollution coordinated by Surfers Against Sewage (PA)© Provided by The Independent

Martyn Craddock, who posted the clip, wrote: “Raw sewage pumped into sea today at Seaford, east Sussex after storm. Yep... that’s a Marine Protected Area. 1000s swimming here just yesterday. Horrendous.” 

Southern Water, one of the companies responsible for some of the worst affected regions, said in a statement: “There were thunderstorms accompanied by heavy rain the night before last and yesterday.

“Storm releases were made to protect homes, schools and businesses from flooding.

“The release is 95-97 per cent rainwater and so should not be described as raw sewage.

“We know customers do not like that the industry has to rely on these [discharges] to protect them, and we are pioneering a new approach.” 

Reference: The Independent: Holly Bancroft -