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The Environment Agency has opened a six-week consultation on how often water companies should be legally permitted to discharge raw, untreated human sewage directly into the nation’s beaches, rivers and coastline.
In response, Surfers Against Sewage is hoping to deliver thousands of signatures of public support to the Environment Agency and MPs to help finally deliver sewage-free seas.
Surfers Against Sewage has been monitoring sewage pollution at hundreds of beaches and surf spots nationwide for years.
There are 31,000 sewer overflows around the UK, designed to discharge a poisonous mixture of raw human sewage and other pollutants from road drains and rooftops directly into our rivers and seas.
Most beaches have at least one sewer overflow that discharges this toxic soup, either directly onto the beach or into a waterway nearby. These sewer overflows are often hidden away from view at the beachfront to conceal their existence.
The 10 worst performing sewer overflows in the Safer Seas Service discharged a combined 250 times during the 2015 bathing season (May-Sept).
Shockingly, there are many more sewer overflows along our coastline that boast similarly shamefully numbers of toxic discharges. This pollution could make you very sick and harms the marine environment.
Surfers Against Sewage is calling for 10,000 surfers, water users, boarders, swimmers and all beach lovers to sign its response to the Environment Agency consultation calling for sewage-free seas.
Surfers Against Sewage will deliver it to the Environment Agency and Environment Minister at its All Party Parliamentary Group meeting in Westminster on 4 May, once the consultation has closed. The Environment Agency consultation closes on 3 May.
‘This really is the best chance in a generation to plug the many thousands of polluting sewer overflows around the country. We need a critical mass of supporters that will be too loud to ignore. It’s now or never, take action and sign up for Sewage Free Seas today!’
ANDY CUMMINS
SAS Campaigns Director
Click here to add your name to the Sewage Free Seas campaign.
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