Climate change threatens clean beaches

London, May 18: The number of clean bathing beaches in Britain has quadrupled in a decade, helped by a series of hot, dry summers, an environmental charity said today.

The Marine Conservation Society said three exceptionally dry summers in the last four years had cut the amount of sewage being discharged into the sea after rainstorms.

But it warned that years of progress could be reversed if climate change brings warmer, wetter winters and summer storms, as some experts predict.

''Heavy rain translates into poor water quality because water-borne pollutants such as raw sewage, petro-chemicals and farm waste by-pass the sewer system and sweep directly from the land into rivers and the sea,'' said Thomas Bell, the society's coastal pollution officer.

''This effect was particularly apparent across the UK during summer 2004 and throughout last winter. It's a serious problem that we believe will worsen in years to come.'' Raw sewage can harm marine life and give swimmers serious infections such as gastroenteritis, which causes vomiting and diarrhoea, the society said.

In its 20th annual Good Beach Report, 494 beaches, or 63 per cent of those tested, were said to have excellent water quality. In 1997, 125 beaches were given a clean bill of health.

Eight beaches in Wales failed the stringent tests, including Abercastle and Pwllgwaelod on the Pembrokeshire coast.

Seven Scottish beaches failed, including Largs and Barassie in Ayrshire. England's only failure was Staithes in North Yorkshire.

Guernsey's Pembroke Bay also slipped up.

The society praised the water industry for improving the way it treats sewage over the last 20 years, but said more investment is needed to help sewage works cope during storms.

Reuters>