Swimmers who participate in traditional festive dips are concerned about sewage in Welsh waters, according to a report by Surfers Against Sewage. The report found that more than 600,000 hours were dedicated to sewage discharge across Wales last year. The campaign group is calling on water companies to provide real-time data on the inflow of sewage and runoff, while Welsh Water and Hafren Dyfrdwy say they invest significantly to improve water quality.
The water companies also claim to report more data than other water companies. David Hanham and his wife expressed concern for their child’s health after swimming on Gower beach, reporting “sludge in the pools.” Hanham’s family also paddle-boarded through what he believed was raw sewage, later describing the experience as “unmistakably…a sewage slick.” Robert Morgan, another swimmer on Gower, expressed concerns about the potential health impacts of swimming in polluted waters.
When rainfall is heavy, treatment plants can discharge untreated sewage to prevent the system from becoming overwhelmed. Although some amount of discharge is normal, exceeding permitted levels could result in a breach of regulations. Rivers and seas can also be polluted by agricultural waste, land pesticides, and private sewage systems.
Alun Moseley, a keen surfer, says he regularly suffers from diarrhea and ear infections caused by swimming in polluted water. Welsh Water dismissed the report as “ignor[ing] the investment made to improve water quality” and highlighted that Wales had over 25% of the UK’s Blue Flag beaches despite having just 15% of the coastline.
In a statement, the Welsh government said high bathing water quality was essential for supporting valuable outdoor water recreation opportunities in the country. While there have been significant improvements in recent years, Natural Resources Wales, the body responsible for monitoring water quality, said it was taking action to reduce sewage spills
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