Plymouth is one of the most prolific surfing sites, renowned for its coastal areas and beach havens. This popular port city has now been hit with a pollution risk warning by the environmental charity Surfers Against Sewage. The SAS is based in the UK and campaigns to protect the ocean, waves, beaches, and marine life from sewage and pollution. The organization was created in 1990 by a group of surfers from the north coast of Cornwall, who have successfully campaigned for marine conservation and the protection of wildlife.

A month ago, the SAS organized 12 protests against sewage dumping in British waterways. The campaign was driven across many different parts of the UK. In a series of tweets recently, the SAS warned surfers about the vicious status of the water flowing in Plymouth. The SAS mentioned the hazards of sewage blasting and water contaminated with fecal matter, in Plymouth Hoe.

Upsetting surfing conditions: Plymouth Hoe filled with raw sewage

According to SAS, urban runoff is one the prime reason for this water pollution in Plymouth. However, animal waste, fertilizers, pesticides, and untreated humans have also contributed to this risk. A tweet on Monday demonstrating sewage pollution in the UK, said, “Despite some areas of the country having nothing like extreme events after weeks of dry weather, this map tells a different story.” The map shows the awful status of the risk of sewage pollution in because across the country.

To resolve this issue, the SAS expressed disappointment with the water companies saying “Combined Sewer Overflow (CSA) systems should only be used in times of extreme rainfall”. The SAS has reported many case studies about the impact of sewage water discharge.

A case study of sewage impacts by SAS

The SAS has mapped 720 sickness reports from entering the water at bathing sites. According to SAS, back in 2021, Sam Trent a native of the region went kayaking in the river Trent and came back unwell. “I was hospitalized for four days with kidney and liver failure from Weil’s disease.”, Sam said, adding that the doctors attributed the sickness to the time spent in the river.

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According to Surfers Against Sewage, it is one of the many cases of the impacts of sewage water discharge in one of the most popular bathing spots of the UK. SAS reports that the water is contaminated with fecal matter and it could lead to many high-risk diseases such as hepatitis, gastroenteritis, giardiasis, skin problems, and many other respiratory illnesses.

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