Pollution incident at Porthtowan Beach

Swimmers are being told to stay away after heavy rain flooded the sewage works

Author: Simon McleanPublished 5th Mar 2024

We're being told not to swim at Porthtowan Beach because of a pollution incident.

The Environment Agency's told us heavy rain yesterday has caused the sewage works to flood, which has gone into the stream and towards the sea.

They say investigations are ongoing with South West Water.

Bruce Newport from the Environment Agency has told us swimmers should stay away for now.

"What's going into the sea at the moment is a little bit of an unknown quantity.

"We are taking samples, but they to take a short while for those to be analysed properly, so at the moment Cornwall Council have put signs up advising people not to swim and as soon as we have some results, we will make those available."

"It could be a matter of weeks"

Bruce also says it could take some time before swimmers are allowed back, "It could be a matter of weeks actually before it's fully back in operation.

"But South West Water have a recovery plan and everything will be done to bring the operation back into its best working operation as quickly as we can."

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