The coastline is a big attraction here in Northumberland, and what a stunning one it is as well! We have beautiful beaches, fantastic marine life, local surf, dive and swim shops/ groups and the amazing people who are dedicated to keeping it clean and safe. To them I say thank you!

Now for the sad reality… no matter the amount of beach cleans and clean up initiatives that are undertaken, our ocean is still suffering. We all know the detriment of plastic and other marine debris, but a big problem many aren’t aware of is sewage pollution.

As a keen sea swimmer/ dipper I look out onto the ocean and get excited, however it’s tarnished by the fact that after heavy rainfall an alert is sent out for sewage pollution, and it isn’t safe to go into the water.

Sewage pollution is described as anything that is flushed down our toilets. So, what is causing this pollution? The easy answer is the UK’s antique sewage system. The sewage overflow pipes were initially created to be effective during unusually high rainfall but have since become an issue when any amount of rainfall occurs.

This sewage pollution can cause all sorts of issues, not just for humans but for the local wildlife. For humans if ingested the pollution has been known to carry E. coli which can make you very unwell. For wildlife, especially marine life, this pollution can be toxic.

It’s not just the ‘raw’ sewage that comes out of these overflow pipes, anything that gets flushed down the toilet comes out (such as toilet paper, and even things that shouldn't be flushed at all such as wet wipes and sanitary products).

So, what can you do? You could email your local MP to find out more information about your local area and if there is anything being done to help with this issue. As always you could get involved in clean-ups and litter picks.

If you are concerned about going in the sea and not knowing about the sewage, there is a really handy app that you can download. It is the Surfers Against Sewage app. It will give you alerts for all over the UK and your local area, these alerts could be from sewage or from poor water quality.

However, don’t let the thought of pollution put you off from enjoying Northumberland’s coast. Get involved in any of the fun activities, try rock pooling, snorkeling, sea swimming, paddleboarding and so much more.

Check out the events page on the Northumberland Wildlife Trust website, here’s the link:

Events | Northumberland Wildlife Trust (nwt.org.uk)