Last summer, the 40-year-old mother's son bathed there and contracted gastroenteritis. Ms. Kind's friends have also suffered from urinary, gastric and eye infections.

This spokesperson for the association Surfers against Sewage, which fights against the pollution of rivers and coasts, reports a few meters from the place where a submerged pipe regularly discharges wastewater directly into the English Channel, on this huge beach on the Isle of Wight (United Kingdom) facing the south coast of England.

British sewage systems, which date back to the nineteenth century, are designed to discharge surplus into the sea in case of heavy rains, to avoid clogging pipes in homes.

But operators are accused of discharging wastewater regularly, even in the midst of drought, and of not having invested in adapting their networks to population growth.

A sewer line on Ryde Beach on the Isle of Wight, March 30, 2023 © GLYN KIRK / AFP

As a result, last summer, many beaches had to close in the middle of a heat wave because the sea water contained too many bacteria.

Surfers against Sewage has just published a list of 83 beaches to avoid. The Isle of Wight has three.

For residents, the problem is becoming heavy: they can no longer go to the beach without consulting the applications of water companies, such as Thames Water or Southern Water, to find out if sewage discharges are in progress. "It weighs on my morale," says Chani Kind.

Eddie Truelove, an 80-year-old retired engineer, and his wife say they no longer swim or walk on the beach and even hesitate to let their dog frolic on the sand, for fear of being contaminated.

Ryde Mayor Michael Lilley blames the problem on underinvestment in the grid, underfunding of too many regulatory agencies, but also climate change, which is increasing the number of torrential rains.

Ryde Mayor Michael Lilley on the beach of his commune, March 30, 2023 © GLYN KIRK / AFP

Instead of being absorbed by the now parched soils, the water breaks in, clogging the pipes that discharge the surplus on the beach.

Nearly 302,000 sewage discharges were recorded last year in the UK into rivers or coastal areas.

Environment Minister Therese Coffey, under fire, on Tuesday signed into law a £1.6 billion investment plan and increased powers for regulators, who will be able to impose "unlimited" fines.

The authorities have also announced that water companies may be banned from paying dividends if they do not comply with environmental standards.

A sewer line on Ryde Beach on the Isle of Wight, March 30, 2023 © GLYN KIRK / AFP

"It's too little, too late," lashed out at Adrian Ramsey, leader of the British Green Party, who said operators, largely owned by foreign funds or companies, can still benefit from their laxity.

Companies in the sector made large profits last year while generously rewarding their shareholders and executives, despite the scandal.

"Swimming in the sewers"

"It's cheaper to pay fines than to make the necessary investments," said Michael Lilley, mayor of Ryde.

The situation has worsened for two years and "we fear for the future", he insists, because "we depend on tourism". "Who wants to swim in sewers?" he asks, also denouncing consequences for flora and fauna, including migratory birds and famous crabs of the island, whose population is declining.

The problem goes beyond the United Kingdom: in 2019, beaches near Marseille, south of the France, were banned from swimming in the middle of the summer season.

Michael Lilley has launched a lawsuit against the local operator, Southern Water, while working with the company, through which he wants to install rainwater collection barrels in every residence.

Southern Water, for its part, assures AFP that "Wight is one of our priority regions" as part of a vast programme to modernise the network.

© 2023 AFP