Call for sewage alert signs on beaches

SWIMMERS' health could be at risk from pollution caused by storms and flooding, experts warned today.

The Marine Conservation Society said excess rainwater poses a powerful pollution threat and called for permanent signs highlighting the dangers to be posted on all bathing beaches.

Many of the country's beaches have combined sewer overf lows and storm water outfalls sited on or near the beach.

Following heavy rainfall and to avoid floodwater overwhelming sewage treatment plants, sewer overflows divert sewage away from treatment plants and discharge directly into rivers and coastal waters.

The MCS warned there is a further risk linked to diffuse pollution - from farmland and highways - which may also contaminate bathing waters.

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