Environmental charity Surfers Against Sewage is to use real time information from combined sewer overflows (CSOs) to alert beach users at 200 sites when there is a pollution risk.
The scheme expanded from a pilot at two beaches in 2010 to 50 sites last year.
SAS campaign director Andy Cummins said: “It’s vital that beach users know when raw sewage is in the sea and our Sewage Alert Service has proven to successfully influence beach users’ behaviour.
“SAS continue to expose the impacts of CSOs and water users are now able to access information to help them avoid exposing themselves to raw sewage polluted waters.”
Meanwhile, the Environment Agency reaffirmed its commitment to tackle sources of coastal pollution in order to meet stricter standards under the EU Bathing Water Directive by 2015.
Water quality teams will take weekly samples at over 500 bathing water sites in England and Wales until September.
Christine Tuckett, EA head of bathing waters, said: “Bathing water quality is at an all time high but there is more work to do to drive further improvements. We are working hard with water companies, local authorities and farmers to identify and tackle sources of pollution at all bathing sites.
“The official bathing water season starts today and every sample counts. We are concentrating on tackling pollution before more stringent water quality targets come into force in 2015 and we will use the latest technology available to help meet these goals. By using cutting edge equipment and the latest forensic techniques, including DNA testing, we can pinpoint causes of pollution and tackle them.”
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