Sewage discharge has entered the water at 11 beaches or seafront locations across Wales in a 48-hour period, according to alerts from Surfers Against Sewage.
Surfers Against Sewage, one of the UK's most successful marine conservation and campaigning charities, publishes real-time alerts on its website and via its Safer Seas and Rivers Service app. The app displays a map showing where and when sewer discharge has entered the water, based on sensors from combined sewer overflows that water companies voluntarily provide to the charity.
The charity explained that sewage pollution is 'everything we flush down the loo or wash down the drain that is released into the environment through sewer overflows or that washes off the land and roads'. It adds on its website that pollution 'puts water users at risk of contracting harmful illnesses including viruses and antimicrobial resistant bacteria'.
Affected Locations
According to the app, sewage pollution alerts are currently in place at the following locations:
- Aberafan (discharge on June 17 at 10:45 AM)
- River Tawe, Clydach (discharge on June 17 at 4:15 AM)
- Swansea Bay (discharge on June 17 at 12:14 PM)
- Bracelet Bay (discharge on June 17 at 8:00 AM)
- Limeslade Bay (discharge on June 17 at 8:00 AM)
- Tenby South (discharge on June 17 at 4:45 AM)
- Penally (discharge on June 17 at 4:45 AM)
- Barmouth (discharge on June 17 at 4:39 AM)
- Craig du Beach Central (discharge on June 16 at 10:30 PM)
- Llyn Padarn (discharge on June 16 at 12:45 PM)
- Llandudno West Shore (discharge on June 16 at 9:10 PM)
The charity also advises against bathing at Watch House Bay, Barry, and Ogmore-by-Sea due to their poor annual classification.
Protests and Response
In May, people gathered at beaches across Wales to protest over sewage pollution levels, with Surfers Against Sewage holding six demonstrations to highlight the 'catastrophically failing' water system. Natural Resources Wales has previously stated: 'Pollution incidents remain too high and water companies must show a firm grip on performance and deliver sustained reductions in spills.'
