Warning not to swim in Bristol's rivers due to sewerage

Storms and heavy rain have caused sewage to be discharged into the river running through Bath and Bristol, making it unsafe for swimming, according to environmental campaign group Surfers Against Sewage.

The SAS group has issued two alerts for the River Avon in the region, covering the popular wild swimming spot at Warleigh Weir near Bath, and the Floating Harbour in the centre of Bristol.

The city council in Bristol has long banned swimming in the docks, saying it is unsafe, but that is being challenged by a Bristol-based campaign group of wild swimmers, set up by Johnny Palmer, the businessman who owns Warleigh Weir.

The Surfers Against Sewage website has issued two alert warnings today as heavy rain swept across the region. When that happens, storm sewage systems often can’t cope with a sudden deluge and overflow into rivers or the sea - something that is being challenged by a national campaign, led on social media by Undertones singer Feargal Sharkey.

The SAS warnings for Warleigh Weir said: “Pollution Alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours. “Sewage discharge notifications are based on a number of sewage outlets upstream of the weir,” they added.

For the Floating Harbour in Bristol, the same ‘storm sewage discharge’ alert was issued.

With demand for people to swim in rivers increasing, so is focus on the amount of sewage water companies are regularly discharging into the rivers in the Bristol area.

At a popular wild swimming spot on the River Avon at the Conham River Park, near Hanham, campaigners have demanded that the council lifts a ban on swimming in the river hare, and grants official ‘Designated Bathing Water Status’ to the Avon at Conham River Park, and the Eastwood Farm Nature Reserve on the south side of the river in Broomhill.

The council have initially refused, saying that it is not safe to swim there because of the boats that occasionally go up and down the river, but thousands have now signed a petition - enough to force a debate by councillors at City Hall.

“Last year, Wessex Water discharged raw sewage directly into the river 23,524 times for a total duration of 151,258 hours,” said the petition, set up by Rebecca Blease, from the Conham Bathing group.

“To address this, community group Conham Bathing has been preparing an application to Defra for Designated Bathing Water Status at Conham River Park (and Eastwood Farm Nature Reserve), a beautiful and historic bathing spot that has been enjoyed by locals for generations.

“With this status, the Environment Agency would monitor the levels of sewage pollution at the site and be responsible for implementing improvement measures if the water is found to be of persistently poor quality. The group needs the Council's permission to submit the application, as it is the landowner of the site,” she added.

Meanwhile, at Weston-super-Mare, there is confusion about whether the sea on the main Weston Beach is safe to swim in - when the tide is in, of course.

Surfers Against Sewage’s latest report following the downpours this week as the heatwave ended, said that although there are two sewage outfall pipes at either end of the beach, there is no indication there has been a discharge.

However, the BBC reported that the official Government department responsible for bathing waters, Defra, had decreed it unsafe to go in the sea at Weston.

Although there are no specific alerts or warnings, the Defra website has been reporting that the official Government advice is against swimming in the sea in Weston.

Wild swimming spots near Bristol where you can cool off in the heat

POLITICS: To keep up to date with latest Bristol politics news, and discuss thoughts with other residents, join our Bristol politics news and discussion You can also sign up to our politics newsletter .

Click for the latest headlines from in and around Bristol.