People that use the beaches in and around Bognor have been advised not to swim in some of the beaches after an “abnormal situation” involving a large sewage main burst. According to the Department for Environment, Food, Rural Affairs (DEFRA), swimmers should avoid four beaches as a result of “pollution from sewage”, which happened after a large sewer burst in Bognor.
The sewer burst, which was reported on Tuesday night (May 16), has resulted in a huge number of tankers in and around the area. Southern Water has called the repairs “complex”, with over 50 tankers involved.
As a result, swimmers have been advised by DEFRA to avoid swimming in the sea in Aldwick, Bognor Regis East, Felpham and Middleton-On-Sea. The agency said: “This incident has been identified as an abnormal situation, water quality monitoring has been suspended. Monitoring will resume once the incident is over.”
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A spokesperson for Southern Water, when discussing the sewer burst incident, said: “Whilst we are confident that we have largely contained this flooding, as a precautionary measure, Arun District Council has decided to place warning notices on the shore at Middleton, Bognor and Felpham to provide members of the public with information about the incident.”
Teams are reported to still be working in the area and it is not yet confirmed when the repairs will yet be complete. Swimmers are advised to continue avoiding swimming in this area until the situation has been resolved.
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