Home / Environment / Sewage Invades UK Waters: Swimmers Fall Ill
Sewage Invades UK Waters: Swimmers Fall Ill
14 Sep
Summary
- Sewage discharged over 2,000 hours into England's bathing waters.
- Hundreds reported sickness including vomiting and infections.
- Child hospitalized after swimming in 'excellent' rated water.
Alarming new figures reveal that sewage was discharged into England's bathing waters for over 2,000 hours during July and August. This has led to hundreds of people reporting sickness, including vomiting, diarrhea, and various infections after swimming in seas and rivers.
Professional surfer Beth Leighfield described the situation as a daily peril, experiencing recurrent ear infections and sickness bugs. Events like the Interclubs competition were cancelled due to pollution warnings, a first for Surfing England. Checking for sewage alerts has become a routine for water users.
The fear extends to families, like Aisling McCarthy's, whose daughter Keeva was hospitalized with campylobacter after swallowing water at Avon Beach, despite its 'excellent' water quality rating. This incident has left the family, and others in the area, fearful of water activities.
Campaigners are calling for significant government action, including reforming the water industry and removing profit motives, to address the escalating sewage pollution crisis. Water companies, however, point to investments and improved bathing water standards compared to past decades.
