Fresh warning of sewage discharges at Warkworth, Amble and Druridge Bay

Campaign group Surfers Against Sewage announced that sewage had been discharged from storm overflows at Warkworth, Amble Links, Druridge Bay North and Druridge Bay South after Monday’s downpours.

The warnings for Druridge Bay and Warkworth note that there are no overflows that discharge directly onto the beach, but there are “a number” in the surrounding area that “may affect bathing water quality”.

For Amble Links, there are no sewer overflows directly at the beach, but there are nearby sewer outlets that flow into the River Coquet, which meets the sea just north of the beach.

Cllr Scott Dickinson, leader of Northumberland Labour and Druridge Bay ward member, and has previously criticised water companies over their failure to deal with the issue – as well as warnings customer bills could rise to fund widescale upgrades to the country’s sewer system.

He said: “Northumbrian Water have paid out hundreds of millions of pounds to shareholders and that really sticks in my throat – a lot like the pollution in the sea.

“We have been talking about this for a long time and I’m pleased in a way we have official confirmation, so people can make informed choices; especially at this time of year when people are enjoying the beaches so much. It’s really unfortunate it has taken this amount of pressure.

“I wandered down to Druridge Bay the other day and it was packed, and everyone was enjoying themselves. I don’t want them being put off, but people need to know.”

Responding to the concerns, a spokesman for Northumbrian Water said: “We share our customers’ passion for our coastline and the fact that 32 of our region’s 34 Bathing Water meet Defra’s top two standards is a really positive indicator of the water quality along our beaches. This includes Warkworth, Amble Links, Druridge Bay North and Druridge Bay South all rated ‘Excellent’, the top category.

“We’re proud to have a strong environmental record, reflected in the highest possible four star environmental rating given to us by the Environment Agency, and we are investing heavily so that we can do even better.

“To further protect the environment, we are investing more than £80m towards reducing our use of storm overflows and upgrading our wastewater network between 2020 and 2025, and currently plan to invest a further £1.7bn in a massive environmental programme that will include the reduction of storm overflow spills from 2025 to 2030, with more investment beyond that.

“In order to protect our customers’ homes, at times of heavy rainfall water companies use storm overflows, which were introduced a long time ago and which we are working to tackle now, as a relief valve on sewer networks. This is carried out with permission from the Environment Agency.

“Under heavy rainfall conditions, such as those experienced this week, storm overflows will discharge to the environment, through pipes, what is largely rainwater, mixed with some of the contents of our sewer network from the area affected. Following periods of hot dry weather, we know this can be exacerbated due to the ground being less permeable, causing even more of the rainwater to run off into drains, filling our network more quickly.”