Wrong sort of rain again on Tuesday: wet – Owl.

Nine Devon beaches have been marked as a “pollution risk” by Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) following heavy downpours this morning [Tuesday June 20]. This is out of a total of 46 areas in Devon that SAS monitors live.

Elliot Ball www.devonlive.com

Four of those sites are marked as “under maintenance”, meaning real-time alerts have been disabled. This means roughly 20% of Devon-monitored beaches are now a “pollution risk” as of today. [Sidmouth and Exmouth are under maintenance, so should also be regarded as polluted – Owl]

Urban runoff is the main reason beaches can become dramatically more polluted with fertilizers, pesticides, oil and untreated human and animal waste all entering waterways, such as rivers.

The contaminated water then reaches the sea with most of the water pollution remaining on the surface. This can make it dangerous to enter the water. According to Surf Today, some experts even suggest waiting 72 hours before entering the sea again after it rains.

Swallowing water that could be contaminated with fecal matter could lead to gastroenteritis, hepatitis, giardiasis, skin rashes, amoebic dysentery, nose, ear, and throat problems, pink eye, and other respiratory illnesses. Symptoms to look out for include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, cramps, inflamed stomach and intestines.

Devon beaches marked as pollution risks

Seaton

Beer

Sidmouth

Budleigh Salterton

Teignmouth Holcombe

Meadfoot

Mill Bay

Plymouth Hoe East

Plymouth Hoe West