Family swim in poo after beach’s sewage warning signs ‘too small’

A woman has questioned why a sewage affected West Country beach is allowed to remain open after unknowingly swimming in poo. The woman, who lives locally, didn't see the two small sewage warning signs placed at Harlyn Bay in Cornwall on Sunday, Cornwall Live reports^[1].

She said: "I am concerned that the emergency pump overflow is being used routinely as opposed to 'emergency use'. Today (Sunday, July 30) at 11am the water was full of sewage again.

"My concern is signage. Two small signs on Harlyn, one on the lifeguard hut and one on the main beach. I am a local and wasn’t aware. We went swimming with the children and had no idea we were swimming in poo. Why is the beach still open for swimming?"

The white background warning sign, that covers approximately half of the information board, read: "Caution. Potential for reduced bathing water quality. Water quality may be affected by rainfall/wind/tide of pollution. This notice will be removed once the risk has passed."

A pollution alert on the Surfers Against Sewage pollution map remains for Harlyn Bay this morning. It reads: "Pollution Alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours.

Get the best stories delivered to your inbox every day. Choose what you want here^[3].

"Harlyn Bay is on the north coast of Cornwall. It is a large fairly remote sandy beach, approximately 770 metres wide, backed by sand dunes and cliffs.

"Harlyn Bay is a very popular family and surfing beach and is suitable for novice surfers. The Harlyn Stream which flows across the beach is approximately six kilometres and flows through farmland before reaching the beach and can affect water quality after heavy rainfall."

Combined sewage overflows in the drainage network combine surface run-off with household sewage and can become overwhelmed during and after periods of heavy or extended rain. Companies including South West Water are then allowed to let them pour into the sea, including the raw sewage, to prevent it backing up into homes.

Sewage alerts are also in place further down the north coast at Godrvey Towans and Gwithians Towans near Hayle, two spots regularly affected by discharge from the Red River.

In April, South West Water was given a £2.1m fine for pollution and dumping sewage in Cornwall.

References

1. ^{^} Cornwall Live reports (www.cornwalllive.com)
2. ^{^} Met Office predicts 24-hour Somerset deluge to kick off August (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
3. ^{^} Choose what you want here (www.somersetlive.co.uk)