[1andrew1]

Water companies have been increasing their dumping of raw sewage into the sea by over 2,500% since 2016 putting Britons at risk of Britons at risk of e-coli, salmonella and shockingly, hepatitis A.

Is it really acceptable for a developed country to be doing this in the 21st century? Surely we should be encouraging people to enjoy our great sea and beaches without such a risk to their health? And what about the adverse economic impact on tourism?

The moment thousands of gallons of RAW sewage flooded into the sea in Sussex forcing beaches to be closed for swimming

• Beaches in Bexhill and Normans Bay, East Sussex, have been shut to swimmers
• It comes after untreated sewage was released into the sea by Southern Water
• The water firm said it happened as the result of a 'significant' electrical issue
• Southern Water has been accused of 'environmental vandalism' by surfers

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...ewage-sea.html

UK health body calls for upgrade to sewage system as beaches close
Britons at risk of e-coli, salmonella and even hepatitis A after water companies dump sewage and storm water into sea

The UK’s public health body warned of the risk of illness to swimmers after water companies dumped sewage and waste water into the sea this week.

“It harms the economy, it harms ecosystems, it harms health,” said Jim McManus, president of the UK’s Association of Directors of Public Health, on BBC Radio Four’s Today programme on Friday. “We need a sewage system fit for the 21st century that stops discharging sewage wherever possible.”

McManus warned of stomach, chest, ear, eye infections, e-coli, salmonella and even hepatitis A being contracted through contact with dirty water. “There are health impacts being seen and sometimes you see GPs reporting on those every year,” he said, adding that household chemicals also find their way into waste water.

“We made massive strides in life expectancy because of sewage, because of food safety . . . and here we are talking about the harms from sewage 175 years after my first predecessor tried to stop it,” he added.

The comments will add to pressure on the water monopolies and their regulators in England and Wales this summer, which have been heavily criticised for awarding lucrative pay packages and dividends to chief executives and investors while announcing hosepipe bans for households and presiding over leakage and pollution failures.

Earlier this week, Southern Water was attacked for telling swimmers to “use your judgment” on whether to swim in water affected by a release of sewage.

Katy Taylor, chief customer officer of Southern Water, told the ITV show Good Morning: “We’re not saying to customers: ‘Don’t swim or don’t go in at all’. We’re saying: ‘There has been a release, this is how long that release has been. It rained, so it’s 95 per cent rainwater, you then need to use your judgment on whether you feel it’s safe to go swimming or not’.”

https://www.ft.com/content/0140a61d-...d-1a797f7475bb

Huge increase in raw sewage released into UK waterways and sea, data reveals

The figure is an increase of 2,553% over five years, according to Environment Agency (EA) data, released under the Freedom of Information Act.

Between 2016 and 2021 water companies discharged sewage into waterways and the sea for a total of 9,427,355 hours, the equivalent of 1,076 years.

It comes as the EA issued warnings to holidaymakers to avoid dozens of beaches across England and Wales this week.

Beaches in Bexhill and Normans Bay were shut down after Southern Water experienced a 'significant' electrical issue at a pumping station in Galley Hill which led to the untreated wastewater gushing into the sea.

It means all beaches between Brighton and Hastings are now closed to swimmers as they are polluted by the release of raw sewage.

The water was released when the primary power and the back-up system at the station failed on Wednesday.

Nearby Hastings Borough Council also warned people not to swim at Pelham Beach due to the pollution risk.

Swimmers in East Sussex have hit out demanding that water firm bosses are held to account.

https://news.sky.com/story/huge-incr...veals-12677730