A new website has been launched by Wessex Water this week which lets beach users check the quality of the sea water in Burnham-On-Sea, Berrow and Brean before they take a swim.
Visitors and residents can quickly find out whether bathing water quality has been affected by stormwater which is flushed into the sea following heavy rainfall using the website here.
Water and sewerage companies throughout the country occasionally use emergency and combined sewer overflows if sewers become swamped in a bid to prevent flooding.
Any foul water is very dilute because of the large amount of rainwater in the system, but campaigners have lobbied for information on when sewer overflow spills have happened.
Dr Julian Dennis, of Wessex Water, said: “Although for many years we have notified local councils if our emergency or combined sewer overflows that might affect bathing water quality have been in use, this is the first time we have been able to provide information for the public to see.”
Wessex Water is also working on a new mobile phone app and text alert system so sea users can find out the latest on bathing water quality via their phone.
RELATED LINKS:
Guide to beaches in Burnham, Brean and Berrow
