Photo by Lison Zhao

The Environment Agency issued pollution alerts at four Isle of Wight beaches following a sewage release by Southern Water, with bathers warned to stay out of the water at Totland Bay and Colwell Bay on the island’s west coast. Similar warnings were also in place at Gurnard Bay and Ryde.

Southern Water attributed the release to an electrical grid failure in the early hours which left a pump unable to operate. The company said a mobile generator had since been deployed to restore power and that the release had been stopped. Other discharges in the preceding 72 hours were, the company said, made to protect against flooding following torrential rain. A spokesperson said Southern Water was “sorry for the concern this release has caused.”

Isle of Wight Council advised residents to avoid direct contact with contaminated water and to keep children and animals away from affected areas. Anyone who did come into contact with polluted water was told to wash thoroughly with soap and water rather than hand sanitiser. It was unclear when the swimming warnings would be lifted.

The incident came during a week in which Southern Water was already facing intense criticism over its separate plan to extend a combined sewer overflow pipe onto Silver Sands Beach in Bembridge on the island’s east coast, a scheme that has drawn a legal challenge, formal objections from multiple bodies, and a petition signed by more than 1,460 residents.