Surfers and bodyboarders were seen riding the waves at Fistral Beach, Cornwall, as sewage was released into the sea on July 15.

South West Water are just days away from meeting with the new Environment Secretary Steve Reed to discuss sewage leaks and water pollution.

South West Water and 15 other Water companies are summoned to a meeting on the 16th July 2024 with a new Secretary of State for the Environment Steve Reid. Which is less than 24 hours after this discharge in Newquay.
Today the Environment Agency issued a warning to beach users that sewage mixed with Rainwater is being released from the Towan Head outfall adjacent to the UK's premier watersport venue of Fistral Beach. Hundreds of enthusiasts are seen surfing, swimming, and Coasteering during the release.
Secretary of State Steve Reed says:
We will never look the other way while water companies pump sewage into rivers, lakes and seas.
This unacceptable destruction of our waterways should never have been allowed, but change has now begun so it can never happen again.
Today I have announced significant steps to clean up the water industry to cut sewage pollution, protect customers and attract investment to upgrade its crumbling infrastructure.
That change will take time. Over the coming weeks and months, this Government will outline further steps to reform the water sector and restore our rivers, lakes and seas to good health.
These steps sit alongside the Government’s manifesto commitments to put failing water companies under tough special measures to clean up our waterways.