CONCERNS have been raised about raw sewage dumped into the sea and washing into Weymouth Bay.

It follows widespread national outcry last week when a majority of Conservative MPs - including three Dorset MPs - voted against an amendment to the Environment Bill that would have forced water companies to stop pumping waste from sewers into rivers or the sea during periods of heavy rain.

As reported, charity Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) drew attention to the issue - as, by coincidence, sewage was emptied into the sea at various locations along Dorset's coastline. On this occasion, Weymouth Beach was not among those highlighted on the map, which is created using information provided by the Environment Agency (EA).

However concerns have been raised over sewage discharges into the sea off the local coast, which according to the Environment Agency can lead to a drop in bathing water quality.

An interactive map by The Rivers Trust enables you to check where sewage has been dumped

Dorset Echo: 'Brown spots' on The Rivers Trust sewage map'Brown spots' on The Rivers Trust sewage map

A Weymouth woman, Linda Stevenson, who is a member of Surfers Against Sewage, recently took part in a beach clean, and said she was "gobsmacked" by the Conservative vote - having found concerning items washed up on the beach.

"I can't believe it - I was completely gobsmacked. I question why they've done that," she said. "I can't see the reason to hold back on (forcing water companies to upgrade the network) - it needs doing."

Linda described finding 'bathroom' items washed up on the beach, including cotton buds and dental 'harps,' adding: "The things we find - it just amazes me really - people don't realise that things they flush into the toilet go in the sea and can end up on the beach.

"I don't want people to be put off from visiting Weymouth Beach - this is happening around the around the entire coast of Britain - it is not just Weymouth.

"Although the water companies offer assurances that sewage is only dumped in the sea at certain times, we should not be doing this full stop.

"I know someone who was out on a jetski in Weymouth Bay and saw human excrement floating past - he was appalled. It is untreated when they let it out in the ocean, the outflow is around the corner but it still comes back on Weymouth Beach."

Dorset Echo: A sign overlooking Weymouth Bay by street artist BOD raised awareness of the campaign for cleaner seas Picture: Finnbarr WebsterA sign overlooking Weymouth Bay by street artist BOD raised awareness of the campaign for cleaner seas Picture: Finnbarr Webster

During heavy or prolonged rainfall, sewers can exceed capacity which means contents are released into the sea and rivers via outflows, to protects properties from flooding and prevent sewage backing up into streets and homes.

The Environment Agency said storm overflows from the Melcombe Avenue and Cranford Avenue sewer system share an outfall that discharges to the sea, and that the operation of the overflows can lead to a drop in water quality at the bathing water.

However, the EA's most recent bathing water classification for Weymouth Beach is 'Excellent,' based on samples taken from 2016 through to 2019.

Campaigners say the outdated Victorian sewage network needs to be upgraded to prevent sewage being dumped.

"We need everyone to write to their local MP and urge them to pass the amendment now - not in the future -we need it now," Linda added. "They are there as our representatives - we, the people they are supposed to represent, do not want this to happen.

"Would you want to do a water sport knowing that you could be swimming in sewage? There's an awful lot of people who have taken up sea-swimming, especially since lockdown. I wouldn't want to go in the sea knowing what's in there."

Weymouth councillor Jon Orrell is also calling on the Government to act. "We were promised that there would be no lowering of environment standards," he said. "Yet now raw sewerage can be dumped in our seas and river. Private firms take hefty profits overseas yet are now allowed to leave a mess here. It's not right. Our MPs should protect the British public, not foreign profits."

Dorset Echo: The Surfers Against Sewage map showing where sewage was dumped along Dorset's coast last weekendThe Surfers Against Sewage map showing where sewage was dumped along Dorset's coast last weekend

Government U-turn

Dorset MPs to have voted against the amendment were Michael Tomlinson MP, who represents Mid Dorset and North Poole, Sir Robert Syms MP, who represents Poole, and Chris Loder MP, who represents West Dorset, all voted in favour of rejecting the proposal to force water companies to clean up their act.

But, following huge public outcry, the Government was forced into a partial U-turn and has said it plans to set out requirements that will see water companies obliged to "secure a progressive reduction in the adverse impacts" of sewage being pumped from storm overflows into rivers and seas.

That could be a challenging job, according to Wessex Water, which is responsible for the local sewage network.

A Wessex Water spokesperson said: “Storm overflows act as relief valves during periods of wet weather, allowing excess storm water to be released into rivers or the sea to prevent properties and streets from being flooded. As any sewage included is heavily diluted by storm water, there is little impact on the environment and it's rare for this to cause pollution.

“Overflows are a legacy of a time when most UK properties were built with only one pipe to drain both foul water and storm water. To remove them would also mean reconfiguring pipework for thousands of homes and preventing rainwater from roofs entering the system.

“Even today, housing developers still have the 'right to connect' surface water pipes to the sewerage network. We would fully support a change in legislation so developers are no longer allowed to do this.

“Storm overflows are regulated by the Environment Agency and when they operate we inform Surfers Against Sewage and the relevant local authority, as well as publishing information on our website.”

Where are the emergency storm overflows?

Storm overflows from the Melcombe Avenue and Cranford Avenue combined sewer overflows share an outfall that discharges to the sea 230 metres from the Environment Agency monitoring point at Lodmoor. 

There is an emergency/storm overflow from the Castle Cove pumping station, that discharges to Portland Harbour 130 metres from the Environment Agency monitoring point.

Meanwhile, information published by the Environment Agency states that streams and rivers are typically affected by various inputs from within the catchment including human sewage, animal slurry and runoff from roads.

The urban area of Weymouth immediately behind the beach is served by a combined (surface and sewer) system. Surface water can flow into the streams from urban areas and highway drains. This can affect stream water quality, particularly after periods of rainfall.

Dorset Echo: A sewage works (PA)A sewage works (PA)

Heavy rain falling on pavements and roads often flows into surface water drains or highway drains, ending up in local rivers and ultimately the sea. The quality of bathing water may be adversely affected as a result of such events.

The River Wey enters the sea at the southern end of Weymouth Central beach.

The River Jordan flows across the beach at Bowleaze Cove. The Environment Agency have monitored the river regularly since 1994 and found that water quality is worse after heavy rainfall. This monitoring has now stopped.

Sewage from the Weymouth and Portland area is treated at Weymouth sewage treatment works and discharges to the sea one kilometre offshore, west of Portland Harbour. The discharge is designed to protect water quality.

The EA directs people to SAS' Safer Seas Service for alerts. Further details of the service can be found at www.sas.org.uk/safer-seas-service/

Surfers against Sewage is holding a protest walk on November 6 at locations around the coast of England, including in Weymouth.