Standing at the edge of a Cornish beach with golden sand and turquoise water—the kind of scene that ends up on postcards—and not knowing if it’s safe to swim is a subtly unsettling experience. That uncertainty is no longer merely a hazy concern. Due to sewage discharges along the coastline, pollution warnings have been issued for over 20 beaches in Cornwall this summer, making it a practical concern.
Families and swimsuits visiting well-known locations like Porthluney Bay and Harlyn Bay are now advised to check current water quality maps before getting into the water. It seems like a fair request. However, many beachgoers feel that something has gone unnoticed because such a check is even required at one of Cornwall’s most well-known family beaches.
Although there is some confusion, South West Water’s live map has become one of the most important resources that people are using. Locals were understandably alarmed by an alert that recently appeared on the map. Active sewage overflow events are flagged by the system, and as a precaution, alerts remain active for up to 48 hours after a discharge and for 12 hours and 30 minutes during the discharge. This timeline is important because a discharge does not always indicate that the water is dangerous right away, but it does indicate that the risk is significant enough that no one should assume otherwise.
The Cornwall-based advocacy group Surfers Against Sewage, which has been outspoken about this issue for years, has created an app especially to assist swimsuits in making wise choices. In addition to flagging impacted beaches and providing tide data and a real-time discharge map, the app gathers data from water company sensors tracking combined sewer overflows.
It takes what the group refers to as a precautionary approach, keeping alerts active for the full 48 hours following a discharge—longer than some water company systems. That caution makes sense, since different businesses have different deadlines. Additionally, the group’s independently released analysis indicates that thousands of hours of illicit sewage discharges have been documented at beaches deemed to be the cleanest in England, with some swimsuits subsequently reporting illness.
Bathing waters are rated by the Environment Agency using a scale that goes from “excellent” to “poor,” depending on the amount of bacteria found over a rolling four-year period. Samples are examined for intestinal enterococci and E. coli, two bacteria that can induce diarrhea, vomiting, and cramping in the stomach.
Approximately 80% of the impacted bathing waters in Cornwall have “excellent” or “good” ratings. That number sounds comforting. However, the rating is based on past data rather than conditions on a specific afternoon. It doesn’t take into consideration what transpired upstream during last Tuesday’s intense downpour. The classification system, according to critics like Surfers Against Sewage, was not intended for the year-round, real-time use of beaches.
The Environment Agency recently issued a sewage risk warning for several beaches, including Polstreath, which is close to Mevagissey. Until South West Water finished its investigation, visitors were advised not to swim there. The warning struck hard for a beach that many consider a must-see, especially during the busiest summer weeks when families have been making travel plans for months.
It is difficult to overlook the larger picture here. Swimsuits and bodyboarders in UK waters frequently have a significantly higher risk of carrying antibiotic-resistant E. coli than non-swimmers, according to Surfers Against Sewage. That is not an outlandish assertion. It relates to something more systemic than a single overflow pipe and is based on research conducted by the European Center for Environment and Human Health.
The good news is that it’s never been simpler to check before swimming. Environment Agency ratings for approved bathing waters are available on the Swimfo website. Live discharge alerts are available through the SAS app. Active overflow events are displayed as they occur on South West Water’s own map. The system as a whole still has flaws, and none of these tools are flawless. However, taking out a phone to look at a map before entering the water on a Cornwall summer day is a tiny action that could have a big impact. The sea is still lovely. It just calls for a bit more caution than it used to.
