The Welsh bays polluted by raw sewage people are being warned to steer clear of
It's set to be the sunniest or at least driest weekend of the year for many areas, with people across Wales likely to flock to seaside hotspots to enjoy the better weather than of late. But a charity has issued a warning for people to be aware of storm sewage and poor water classification at several hotspots.
Surfers Against Sewage, one of the UK's most successful marine conservation and campaigning charities, has published the alerts on its website. It writes that there is an issue concerning storm sewage within the last 48 hours at Swansea Bay, whilst bathing is not advised at Ogmore By Sea and Watch House Bay, Barry, due to its "poor annual classification".
The charity explained how sewage pollution was "everything we flush down the loo or wash down the drain that is released into the environment through sewer overflows, or that washes off the land and roads." For the latest Welsh news delivered to your inbox sign up to our newsletter.
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Here is more detail on the areas currently subject to alerts, and the information contained about the areas on the Surfers Against Sewage website.
Swansea Bay
The charity writes: "Pollution alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours. Swansea Bay is a 9km stretch of sand, pebble and mud flats that stretches from Mumbles Head to the River Tawe. It slopes gently and at low tide the waters edge is a long way from the beach front. Numerous sewer overflows discharge into the sea and waterways here including several that discharge into the River Tawe."
Ogmore By Sea
The charity writes: "Bathing not advised due to poor annual classification. A popular sand and pebble beach at the mouth of the River Ogmore. The two-mile-long beach is popular with families, surfers and canoeists. In 2023, the beach was classified as poor, so bathing is not advised."
Watch House Bay
The charity writes: "Bathing not advised due to poor annual classification. Watch House Bay is a small easterly-facing cove at the entrance to Barry Old Harbour. Around 100m long, the beach is backed by a concrete wall and large steps to a shingle bank with sand/mud at lower tides. The beach is next to Cold Knapp point and faces Friars Point to the west towards Barry Island. The Watchtower at the northern end of the beach was built around 1860 as a coastguard station, behind the beach a Victoria promenade leads to Knapp gardens and Cold Knapp Bay." Join our WhatsApp news community here for the latest breaking news.