Clean water advocates Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) have commended South Ayshire Council, SEPA and Scottish Water for their decision to post warning notices at an Ayr beach following a sewage pollution incident.

Public warning notices were posted along the main beach in Ayr alerting the public to the potential danger of bathing in sewage contaminated water by SEPA and the Environmental Health team at South Ayrshire Council. These will remain up until the water samples results have been analysed and the beach is given the all clear.

Flows from the sewage treatment works were diverted into an existing older sewage pipe that subsequently then stopped sewage flowing into the river near Ayr Bridge at 9:30am today.

Whilst it may seem a common sense action to take, the practice of posting warning notices at beaches when there is a risk of pollution from sewage is rare. Actions to resolve the problem are often slow and the public kept in the dark. The response of parties involved should be commended.

Across the UK many beaches still suffer with poor water quality when raw sewage is discharged onto beaches during periods when the existing treatment works cannot cope. Known as Combined Sewage and Stormwater Overflows (CSO's), these normally affect beaches after prolonged periods of rainfall, yet beach users are rarely informed when they are flowing despite presenting a huge public health hazard.

Richard Hardy, SAS Campaign Assistant says: "In this instance the authorities dealing with the broken sewer in Ayr have been remarkably efficient. In the main however raw sewage continues to be discharged at many beaches in the UK without the public being fully aware of the dangers of bathing. SAS is campaigning for warning notices to be issued at any beach where CSO's threaten water quality this summer and urge other local authorities to embrace this case example"

A broken sewer would suggest a degraded sewer network. SAS are concerned that investment in maintenance of Water Authority assets is at a high enough level to stop these kind of events occurring in the first place. Until the all clear is given SAS would advise water users in the area to avoid using the main beach in Ayr.

For further information please contact Richard or Vicky on Tel: 01872 553001 or Mob: 07817 401480.

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