Swimmers are warned to avoid New Year bathing along the Kent coast after Southern Water warned of another sewage spill following heavy rain.
Heavy rainfall on New Year’s Eve led to sewage spillages along the coastline, which are being tracked by environmental group Surfers Against Sewage.
The environmental campaign groups interactive map shows numerous sites dumping sewage along the Kent coast near bathing waters. The Environment Agency has also warned that bathing water may have been affected at St. Mary’s Bay in Romney Marsh in south Kent.
Beaches in Folkestone, Sandgate, Hythe, Whitstable and Herne Bay have all been affected by the overflows caused by the stormy weather. In the last 24 hours, Southern Water have confirmed releases in Whitstable and Herne Bay and their monitoring system also confirmed a release at St. Mary’s Bay within the last 72 hours.
There was pollution in the seas along the Kent coast last year 2022 – in our driest Summer to date
The leakage in north-east Kent near Herne Bay has leaked for more than 32 hours since yesterday morning, according to Southern Water data. The water company called the sewage overflows at Folkestone, Sandgate and Hythe ‘unverified releases to bathing areas’.
Locals are furious that ‘spills’ continue to happen, local MPs supporting the activity rather than fighting to keep our natural environment clean.
One said “The word ‘spill’ makes it sound accidental – it clearly isn’t.”
Another added “Spillage – makes it sound like it was accidental and small. Like spilling your cuppa. They make me sick.”
Another comment was “I thought water companies were supposed to look after our water and supply it clean, not cause pollution!”
