Southern Water leak forces ban on people entering the water in Botany Bay, Joss Bay, Kingsgate Bay, Stone Bay and Viking Bay
13:29, 05 October 2021
updated: 15:34, 05 October 2021
A council is urging beach-goers not to enter the sea after an "unscreened wastewater release".
There have been a number of leaks by Southern Water across the east Kent coast over the past few days as heavy rain battered the county.
Thanet District Council is now warning people not to go into the sea at five beaches.
A statement said: "Following a Southern Water unscreened wastewater release, beach users are advised not to enter the sea or the area of beach below the high water mark at the following beaches: Botany Bay, Kingsgate Bay, Joss Bay, Stone Bay and Viking Bay."
There have been a number of releases across Kent over the past few days, including in Whitstable, Herne Bay, Thanet and Folkestone.
The incident comes after the firm was slapped with a record £90 million fine in July after unleashing up to 21 billion litres of sewage into protected water between 2010 and 2015.
Last month it was reported Southern Water would pay £100,000 in compensation to Thanet District Council, after raw sewage leaked into the sea following a lightning strike on a pumping station.
People were warned to stay out of the water after the incident in June, when the water company's building at Foreness Point was hit in a storm.
It caused wastewater to pump into the sea between Margate main sands and Joss Bay in Broadstairs.
The leaks sparked anger, prompting protesters to march to the pumping station, while council bosses slammed the situation as an "environmental and financial disaster".
