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Southern Water Says 'Fully Treated' Water Released Into Sea At Sandown

Southern Water claims water released into the sea at Sandown and Yaverland over the weekend has been 'fully treated' - despite Islanders expressing concerns.

According to the water supplier's website, unverified releases of water were made into the sea of the Bay area. The most recent was at 8pm last night (Sunday).

The updates caused some worries amongst sunbathers on the Isle of Wight, who were concerned that sewage was being pumped into the sea.

Today (Monday), a Southern Water spokesperson told Isle of Wight Radio:

“We are aware of an alert to our Beachbuoy system, which provides near real-time information about releases of stormwater or wastewater in bathing areas. This was in the area of Sandown on the Isle of Wight from approximately 8pm on Sunday.

“Initial enquiries have identified that the water released was fully treated, and not sewage, but investigations are ongoing to establish the full circumstances.”

The Southern Water website adds:

"Outfalls are part of the design of the sewers and are regulated by the Environment Agency. They’re used in areas where the sewers were built to carry both wastewater and rainwater away from communities. They help to protect homes and communities from flooding and pollution by stopping the sewers backing-up or overflowing during large storms or prolonged showers."

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