Portreath Beach: Sewage Fouls Cornwall Coast

Portreath beach on Cornwall's north coast is experiencing severe pollution from raw sewage discharges, leading to widespread public anger and disgust. Residents like Simon Haines, 66, describe the smell as "disgusting" and problematic, noting it intensifies during summer months due to two Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs) releasing untreated sewage and rainwater directly into the sea.

Long-time residents, including 83-year-old Mike Gay, have observed sewage patches in the water for years and actively discourage bathing. Tourists have also expressed shock, with Janet Moore, 75, questioning how people can tolerate the smell, which is particularly bad at low tide. Environmental groups such as Surfers Against Sewage have flagged the beach with numerous sewage alerts, including 26 consecutive days in 2023.

Further concerns arise from a £17 million flood resilience project by the Environment Agency, which campaigners fear may worsen bathing water quality. Chloe Flood of Surfers Against Sewage criticized the privatized water industry for continuous sewage dumping, noting thousands of hours of discharge into bathing waters like Portreath. South West Water stated their storm overflow operates automatically during wet weather to prevent flooding and is within permitted limits.