Public warned not to swim at 132 UK beaches as sewage spills plague waters after heavy rain - full list of locations affected

Surfers Against Sewage has issued 132 sewage alerts at locations across the UK after heavy rain overwhelms sewer networks
Isabella Boneham
By Isabella Boneham
7th Jul 2023, 11:59am
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Brits have been warned not to swim at 131 popular beaches across the UK on Wednesday (1 November) as Storm Ciaran brings heavy rain, causing sewer networks to overflow. The Met Office said the storm could be “quite nasty” bringing gusts of wind of 80mph and disrupting travel.

Environment group Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) have issued the alerts advising the public not to swim at specific beaches due to waste being discharged from a sewer overflow within the past 48 hours. During periods of heavy rainfall sewer networks can become overwhelmed resulting in sewage being discharged from combined sewer overflows (CSOs) instead of being treated. Water companies are issued with permits that allow them to discharge sewage if their networks are overwhelmed by rainwater in what should be exceptional circumstances.

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Hundreds of points across the country saw sewage discharged into its waters when Storm Babet hit the UK recently. Now more heavy rain is seeing more waste being overflowed into UK waterways. Firms have been heavily criticised for the amount of times they utilise the storm overflow system and investigations have evenf ound that some companies discharge sewage on days when it is not raining.

The campaign group Surfers Against Sewage monitors the water quality at 383 river and coastal locations throughout the country. Following sewage alerts, a SAS spokesperson told NationalWorld that the “blatant disregard for public health and our blue spaces is appalling.” The spokesperson added: “Water companies spill sewage come rain or shine, all the while syphoning off tens of billions to shareholders and paying the fat cats at the top huge pay and bonuses.”

Surfers Against Sewage has issued 132 sewage alerts at locations across the UK after heavy rain overwhelms sewer networks. (Photo: Getty Images) Surfers Against Sewage has issued 132 sewage alerts at locations across the UK after heavy rain overwhelms sewer networks. (Photo: Getty Images)
Surfers Against Sewage has issued 132 sewage alerts at locations across the UK after heavy rain overwhelms sewer networks. (Photo: Getty Images)

Listed are the beaches across the UK that have been marked as a pollution risk today (Wednesday 1 November). The public are advised not to swim at beaches marked with a pollution risk as there is the potential to swallow water that could be contaminated with faecal matter leading to nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, cramps, inflamed stomach and intestines.

  • River Dee - Lower Dee Lane
  • River Dee - Upper Dee Lane
  • Aberffraw
  • Newport North
  • Newgale Beach
  • Solva
  • Broadhaven Beach
  • Manorbier
  • Penally
  • Saundersfoot
  • Rhosilli
  • Caswell Central
  • Weston Main
  • Dunster North West
  • Combe Martin
  • Ilfracombe Hele
  • Woolacombe Village
  • Westward Ho!
  • Polzeath
  • Harlyn Bay
  • Mawgan Porth
  • Crantock
  • Portreath
  • Godrevy Towans
  • Gwithian Towans
  • Porthkidney
  • Long Rock
  • Perranuthnoe
  • Coverack
  • Porthoustock
  • Swanpool
  • Gyllyngvase
  • Polstreath
  • Pentewan
  • Par Sands
  • Readymoney Cove
  • East Looe
  • Millendreath
  • Seaton (Cornwall)
  • Portwrinkle
  • Kingsand
  • Cawsand
  • Plymouth Firestone Bay
  • Plymouth Hoe East
  • Plymouth Hoe West
  • Mothecombe
  • Thurlestone South
  • Mill Bay
  • Dartmouth Castle and Sugary Cove
  • St Mary’s Bay
  • Meadfoot
  • Torre Abbey
  • Beacon Cove
  • Shaldon
  • Teignmouth Holcombe
  • Dawlish Town
  • Exmouth
  • Sandy Bay
  • Budleigh Salterton
  • Sidmouth Town
  • Beer
  • Seaton (Devon)
  • West Bay
  • Swanage Ulwell Stream
  • Swanage Central
  • Poole Harbour Rockley Sands
  • Kite Beach
  • Hengistbury West, Bournemouth
  • Christchurch Avon Beach
  • Friars Cliff, Christchurch
  • Totland Bay
  • Colwell Bay
  • Shanklin
  • Sandown
  • Yaverland
  • Bembridge
  • St Helens
  • Seagrove
  • Ryde
  • Gurnard
  • Cowes
  • Hillhead
  • Stokes Bay
  • Southsea East
  • Eastney
  • Langstone Harbour
  • Beachlands West
  • Beachlands Central
  • Chichester Harbour
  • Bognor Regis (Aldwick)
  • Bognor Regis East
  • Felpham
  • Middleton-on-Sea
  • Littlehampton
  • Worthing
  • Shoreham Beach
  • Southwick
  • Hove Lawn
  • Saltdean
  • Seaford
  • Pevensey Bay
  • Normans Bay
  • Bexhill
  • St Leonards
  • Hastings Pelham Beach
  • Camber
  • St Marys Bay (Kent)
  • Hythe
  • Sandgate
  • Folkestone
  • Tankerton
  • West Beach, Whistable
  • Lowestoft South
  • Lowestoft North
  • Heacham
  • Cleethorpes
  • Hornsea
  • Scarborough South Bay
  • Scarborough North Bay
  • Whitby
  • Runswick Bay
  • Seaton Carew North
  • Crimdon
  • Seaham Hall Beach
  • Seaham Beach
  • Tynemouth Cullercoats
  • Blyth South Beach
  • Druridge Bay South
  • Druridge Bay North
  • Amble Links
  • Warkworth
  • Spittal
Related topics:EnglandSewagePollution

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