To cancel UK holiday after watching Dirty Business

[Neilsparentsarecomingfortea]

I have booked a week away in Devon for partners 50th birthday. Lovely cottage with a hot tub.
However, since watching dirty business I am considering cancelling (will lose 3rd of booking - which isn't money I can easily write off) as I don't feel it's worth risking going on the UK beaches anymore. If my family were to become ill I would never forgive myself.
I am absolutely furious that EA have allowed this kind of corruption to continue for so long. And that the water companies are polluting our rivers and seas at such an alarming rate. How do they sleep at night?

Don't even get me started on the impact to our wildlife.
WWYD?
I have downloaded the surfers against sewage app but genuinely worried to allow my child onto the beach in future after seeing what happened to poor Heather and her family. Considering selling my campervan.

I think that seems a bit much.

It is all shocking and of course shouldn't be happening/needs to be stopped.

However there are a lot of people living and holidaying in Devon all the time without issues.

I was watching it last night. I love swimming in the sea, it’s one of life’s great pleasures. But this really makes you think.

I tried river swimming once but was so sick afterwards.

And poor Heather Preen and her dad, it’s heartbreaking.

The water companies and the Environment Agency should be ashamed of themselves.

It needs to be re-nationalised. As does energy. No one should be making profit out of things we need to live.

It is a disgrace but it seems unfair on the business in Devon that relies on summer income. Are your kids of the age they will be in the sea ?

we don t get the weather that often anyway they enables sea bathing so there is still plenty to do there.

maybe do your bit by raising g awareness to others to put pressure on our govt to change

It seems a bit extreme. There are plenty of other things you can enjoy in Devon aside from the beach. However, I live in Devon and we have a thriving cold swim and water sports communities and any issues are vanishingly rare.

I'm in the south west a few times a year and only experienced one red flag sewage "spill" day 😡. They happen after heavy rain, so you can usually predict them a couple of days in advance but as long as you go to an RNLI or local lifeguarded beach then you'll be aware of it.

The south west are quite rightly taking legal action against the water companies now.

There are apps to check for discharges as you say. Just tell your children not to swallow the sea water (i.e. swim with head above waves and shut mouth if body boarding).

There are loads of things to do with children in Devon without going in the sea.

I do a lot of open water swimming,

if you do want to swim outdoors you can check for discharges. Some places are always getting harm and other places are pretty clean.

https://theriverstrust.org/key-issues/sewage-in-rivers

I mean it’s up to you and I largely agree - it’s awful. However - you not going is not going to make a difference much, thousands go to Devon to holiday. Just like climate change a a few people boycotting flying isn’t going to help much.

It's the only way things will change. It's all about money. These companies have no interest in environmental impact. If business suffers then perhaps more pressure can be brought for real change. Let's face it people should be in prison.

@justdontrelateanymore
that impossible. The water still gets on your lips and In Your eyes. And little kids will
just forget.

@Tel12
but it’s not the ice cream man or the local pub that’s putting shit in the water is it.

Check the Live Sewage Map.

It is shocking and terrifying. I live nearish a few beaches and tend to go at least once a week from March to October but I always check the surfers against sewerage app first! I think most people do the same as when you get to the beach after discharge there will be a fraction of the usual numbers in the sea (a few times only checked the app when we got there). You also have to be aware of the sand - if there was a discharge earlier that week, the water might be testing fine but the sand may be contaminated from the tide going in as some bacteria/parasites survive a few days.

I have stopped swimming in Exmouth as they had so many incidences last year. It is such a pity as it is a gorgeous beach! Personally I have noticed that the places with the highest volume of caravan parks are the worst affected - South West water seems to just dump the extra sewerage in the summer months rather than treating it.

The app will also tell you how many incidents there have been lately and how many people reported they were ill within recent years. I basically go to the beaches with the lowest incidents.

I wouldn’t cancel your holiday - if you have a car or are on a train line there are other beaches you can go to if yours is affected. There are also loads of nice places around Devon to visit during the summer months! Which area are you going to?

EVERYBODY PANIC!!!!!! 🤣

Grow up. People have been going to UK beaches for years. It's fucking dreadful what is going on and successive governments have failed in sorting it but to cancel holidays is just childish over dramatic tantrum stuff.

I live there and I agree it's an absolute disgrace.

2 years ago there was a sewage discharge on the Friday of the August bank holiday. They evacuated all the beaches at lunchtime, they were packed. We'd just left and totally missed the chaos.

It wasn't okuntil Monday by which time businesses really really suffered. It's the kind of thing that ruins holidays for people and then they never come back.

I hate that I have to check apps to see if it's safe. It should be safe all the time.

If you want to cancel you should and I understand why you wouldn't take the risk. But if you have time I would really urge you to send an email or a message to one of our local MPs or bloody South West water about it.

Ah, this one was of the brexit gifts. I remember the sea and rivers being filthy before but the European union got us to clean up. Seemed to revert straight back after brexit. Another thing where the UK gov are weak and they calue companies over our health and the welfare of nature.

Go on holiday, just be careful?

Fergal Sharkey is my hero!
What I would say is that beaches abroad are often much worst - you have to check very carefully country by country and even by areas.

You could stay off the beach and enjoy your hot tub with jets that are contaminated with skin, bacteria and fecal matter from all the previous guests.Theyre never, ever cleaned properly. Make sure you don't have any cuts.

Most of our beaches suffer pollution. Just avoid swimming or use pools if you bothers you that much.

They'll be fine in a dry summer. It's after periods of heavy rain you need to avoid.

I'm not sure sea pollution is a new issue. I'm in my 40s and grew up on the coast close to several beaches, the main one has always had poor water quality ratings, so I've never been in it. My Mum always told us not to go in the sea on that beach because of sewage. You can still walk on the beach etc, you don't need to go swimming to enjoy the seaside.

Is there a lido or similar close to where you're going if you're wanting to swim?

I go for a sea dip every week. I have the Safer Seas and River Service app (Surfers Against Sewage) and check before I go. Mostly it's fine, and if the weather's dry then it's rare to have a problem.

I swam for several years before I knew about the app and have never once been sick.

Everyone has their own tolerance level and we should ALL be disgusted that the apps need to exist but you're overreacting a bit IMO, OP.

Not watched it but grew up on the coast and had my first encounter with floating ‘debris’ as a youngster… from another bather though rather than sewers. People have been peeing and pooping in the sea forever… and after that day I never went in again. I hate the sea and rivers and never allowed my kids to swim in it other than a few times on holidays where we’ve checked the clarity of the water and made them shower off lots. They always got ear infections just from sand/sea water in their ears and that ruined enough holidays that mine just don’t bother. A chlorinated pool is always preferable.

I think it’s been generally understood that rivers/sea are not clean for years, so have always avoided any more than paddling in wellies. Am a bit OCD though.

Don't swim at Dalgety Bay⚠️☢️⚠️