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Brighton swimmers adjust routines around sewage alerts
Brighton swimmers adjust routines around sewage alerts
Open-water swimmers in East Sussex say checking sewage warnings has become a routine part of deciding when and where to enter the sea.
Swimmers in Brighton and elsewhere along the East Sussex coast say sewage alerts increasingly determine whether they use the sea. Public data recorded two alerts at Brighton beach in August and 158 during 2025.
Jo Armstrong, 75, normally swims near Seaford but travelled to Brighton after pollution prevented her from entering the water there for a week. Hildi Mitchell, 55, runs Pool to Pier, which helps pool swimmers move safely into open water. She said some participants trained throughout the year but avoided the sea in summer because they feared becoming ill. Her programme also offers free workshops to children from low-income families.
Greg Veros, 59, said he shifted much of his swimming to Brighton's outdoor pool after an illness he believes was connected to sewage pollution. Anna Field, 54, said she checks spill information alongside weather conditions and has sometimes detected sewage at the beach. Although pools provide an alternative, participants said sea swimming offers freedom and public access that cannot be fully replicated. Pollution warnings therefore affect recreation, exercise and access to a free local amenity.
N. Gonçalves--JDB
