British beaches deluged by raw sewage as urgent warnings issued to avoid them

The waters could be contaminated with mix of pesticides, oils, and untreated human and animal waste (Image: PA) UK beachgoers have been hit with new sewage pollution warnings, with 57 locations across the South West likely to be affected. The heavy rainfall over the past few days has resulted in a “sewage pollution alert” for 33 beaches in Cornwall and a “pollution risk forecast or incident alert” for 21 others, according to Surfers Against Sewage (SAS). Based on these calculations, up to 80 per cent of beaches in the area could be contaminated. Popular tourist destinations such as Falmouth and Penzance are among the affected beaches. SAS defines a pollution alert as “storm sewage being discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours”. A “pollution risk forecast or incident alert” indicates the likelihood of sewage discharge in the area. The primary source of contamination in these instances is urban runoff, which consists of a mixture of pesticides, oils, and untreated human and animal waste entering rivers. This contamination makes it potentially unsafe to enter the water in the affected areas. Swallowing faecal material can be very harmful, resulting in various illnesses such as hepatitis, giardiasis, skin rashes, amoebic dysentery, and other ailments affecting the nose and ears, among others. Symptoms to watch out for include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, cramps, and inflammation of the stomach and intestines. Experts suggest waiting for three days before re-entering the water after rainfall, although more rain is expected in the coming days. The situation makes it potentially unsafe to even enter the water (Image: PA) Kingsand Cawsand Portwrinkle Downderry Seaton Millendreath East Looe Readymoney Cove Polkerris Par Sands Shorthorn Beach Charlestown Duporth Porthpean Beach Pentewan Portmellon Gorran Haven Little Perhaver Porthluney Pendower Porthcurnick Gyllyngvase Swanpool Maenporth Porthallow Porthoustock Coverack Kennack Sands Polurrian Cove Poldhu Cove Perranuthnoe Marazion Long Rock Penzance Wherry Town Porthgwidden Porthkidney Gwithian Towans Godrevy Towans Portreath Trevaunance Cove Perranporth Crantock Fistral South Fistral North Porth Mawgan Porth Porthcothan Harlyn Bay Trevone Bay Polzeath Trebarwith Strand Crackington Haven Summerleaze Crooklets