The Surfers Against Sewage campaign group has reported that 60 live sewage pollution warnings were in place – and flagged up on the SAS interactive map – at 4pm yesterday afternoon.

The water companies are continuing to face widespread public criticism in both print and online media.

The Safer Seas & Rivers Service – an award-winning, free to use app – which covers over 390 beaches across England, Scotland and Wales, is the only national real-time water quality service that protects all water users from pollution.

The pioneering service alerts water users when sewer overflows discharge untreated human sewage into the sea and when water quality is temporarily reduced due to heavy rainfall and pollution incidents.

The app now covers a number of rivers and streams where water quality data is available. These include: Ilkley on the River Wharf, Warleigh Weir on the River Avon, Dee River in Wales as well as Seatown, Swanage Ulwell, Charmouth West, Eypemouth and Bowleaze Cove streams. 

SAS also allows people to report any illness after time spent in the sea and submit a health report through the Safer Seas & Rivers Service app.

Untreated sewage and wastewater frequently discharges from thousands of sewer overflows around the UK, sometimes significantly reducing water quality.

When these events occur, Surfers Against Sewage is automatically notified by the water company and issues a real-time sewage alert through the Safer Seas & Rivers Service so surfers, swimmers and other water users can avoid the potentially harmful pollution incident.

The app also includes daily pollution risk forecasts made by the Environment Agency, NRW and SEPA for 200 locations across the UK.

Click here to access the Safer Seas & Rivers Service app