Swimmers are once again being advised not to swim in the sea following sewage discharges at a number of Isle of Wight beaches following recent heavy rain.
DEFRA and the Environment Agency have today (Thursday) said that bathing is not advised at Bembridge, St Helens, Seagrove Bay, Ryde, Cowes, Gurnard or Yarmouth following confirmed discharges in the past 24 hours. Unverified discharges have also taken place at Colwell, Whitecliff, Yaverland, Sandown and Shanklin.
It comes in the same week that a banner was erected on the fence of Southern Water’s water supply works at Golf Links Road in Sandown stating “stop dumping shit in the sea” – despite the site itself handling fresh water.
However, Southern Water has said that the discharges into the sea are heavily diluted and are around 95% rainwater.
A spokesperson has recently said:
“Extreme rain can overwhelm the combined sewer and drainage system which exists in many parts of our region.
“To protect homes, schools and businesses from flooding has led to some overflows releasing excess water into the sea”.
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