Sewerage alerts issued in Cornwall after the county was hit by deluge of rain

Cornwall’s beaches have been affected by sewage overflows following a wave of heavy rain. Two alerts are currently in effect in the county.

South West Water’s WaterFit Live beach map shows storm surges operating across the UK and how they affect bathing water. Storm spillways operate automatically during heavy rains to protect properties, businesses and streets from flooding.

According to the map, there are currently alerts for East Looe and Seaton. Alerts say: “Bathing water condition may be affected by operation of spillways.”

READ MORE: The wanted man may work as a carpet fitter in Cornwall

READ MORE: Cornwall’s most dangerous roads have been revealed, including one with the most accidents

On their website, South West Water explains: “Heavy or prolonged rain puts pressure on combined sewers as there is not always enough capacity in the network to contain such volumes.

“Storm spillways are designed to act as a safety valve by automatically discharging into the sea or a river when this happens.

“The process is strictly regulated by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Environment Agency.”

It added: “We are constantly improving and investing in our network to increase its storage capacity, including by installing more storm storage and larger channels. We also work with other agencies to separate surface water from our sewer systems to reduce pressure. them.

“The cost, both financially and environmentally, to remove all storm runoff would be substantial. It would cost billions and cause major disruption that undermines urban and rural areas.”

⚠️ Want the latest breaking Cornwall news and top stories first? Click here to join CornwallLive on WhatsApp and we’ll send you breaking news and top stories straight to your phone. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions and ads from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out anytime you want. If you are curious, you can read Privacy Notice.