Following heavy rains in the south-west of England in the United Kingdom, raw sewage alerts have been raised for most of the beaches in Cornwall.
According to the pressure group Surfers Against Sewage (SAS), which monitors the water quality of 68 beaches in the area, almost 80 percent of the beaches were contaminated with sewage pollution.
The Independent reported that 33 beaches received a "sewage pollution alert" and 21 received a "pollution risk forecast or incident alert".
A sewage pollution alert means that storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours. Meanwhile, a pollution risk forecast or incident alert indicates there is potential for sewage to be in the area.
The most recent alerts also had an impact on beaches on the north and south sides of Cornwall, including hotspots like Falmouth, Penzance, and Looe.
The main cause of contaminated beaches is urban runoff, which includes fertilizers, pesticides, oil, and untreated human and animal waste entering waterways. Heavy rain flow can lead these substances to bodies of water and eventually end up on the beach.
The polluted water mostly stays on the surface, making it harmful to enter the water.
According to Surf Today, as reported by Cornwall Live, experts recommend waiting at least 72 hours after rain before returning to the sea.
Swallowing water tainted with feces could result in a variety of ailments such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, cramps, and an irritated stomach and intestines.
The Met Office had earlier issued a yellow thunderstorm warning for Scotland and northern England, as well as a strong wind warning for the south of England.
UK sewage system "woefully inadequate"
The SAS describes the UK sewage system as "woefully inadequate," as water corporations regularly release raw sewage into rivers and the ocean through a network of 18,000 regulated sewer overflows.
In 2021, the group recorded that the sewage discharged in Cornwall's rivers and seas was 370,000 times, for a total of 2.7 million hours.
The group claimed that the firms have been underinvesting in their sewage management systems while paying out £60 billion in dividends to shareholders over the last 30 years.
"The sheer volume of pollution entering our water means the UK consistently ranks as one of the worst European countries for coastal water quality," they added.
Tourist in Cornwall
Despite health risks, Cornwall tourism is expected to boom this summer.
The BBC reported that figures from Visit Cornwall estimate that there will be 14 million visitors per day in the county.
Authorities have strengthened their police presence in some of the tourist hotspots, with Devon and Cornwall Police beginning their summer policing with enhanced foot, bike, and e-bike patrols in villages, towns, resorts, beaches, and inland open spaces.
The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner has funded an additional 800 hours' worth of patrol.
"Tourism is an important part of Cornwall's economy, and we very much welcome visitors to the county who respect our community and places," said Ch Supt. Ben Deer, commander of Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Police. "We encourage the public to enjoy the environment, sea, and scenery safely and respectfully whilst they spend time here."
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