Sewage spill at popular swimming spot reignites calls for change in law

A sewage spill near a popular bathing site has reinvigorated calls for change to a by-law that makes it illegal to swim in Bristol’s rivers.

Data collected by Wessex Water found that sewage spilled into the stretch of water surrounding Conham River Park on Monday for a total of 162 minutes.

The spill is the first this month, after a sewage spill occurred for 170 minutes on May 8.

The spill is the result of storm overflows, which acts as a relief valve when a sewage system is at risk of being overwhelmed, such as during heavy downpours.

Local sewage pollution campaign group, Conham Bathing, has been tracking when these storm overflows, which are also known as CSOs, occur near the swimming spot.

Becca Blease, the group’s founder, said the latest sewage spill was “unacceptable”.

“It’s really unacceptable, especially during the summer months when we have not experienced storm conditions and it is a particularly popular time for swimming and paddling,” she said.

Becca told Bristol24/7 the spill comes at a time when water companies will soon be bound by law to reduce their use of storm overflows, and will be asked to prioritise reducing sewage spills at designated bathing water sites.

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Read more: The group fighting to end sewage pollution in beloved Bristol swimming spot

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If the council was to designate Conham River Park bathing water status, the area could be protected from further sewage spills down the line.

“Our campaign has been seeking designated bathing water status for this stretch of the Avon since 2021, because it’s the only mechanism we have to increase water quality monitoring and to investigate pollution,” said Becca.

“However, last year Bristol City Council blocked our application due to the local bylaw that prohibits swimming in the harbour – a bylaw that exists largely for health and safety reasons, including perceived poor water quality of the river.

https://twitter.com/BeccaBlease/status/1671058539882639363

“So we’re in this frustrating situation where we are less able to improve the water quality of the river because of a bylaw that deems the poor water quality unsafe,” she added.

“And now we cannot guarantee that this site will be prioritised for wastewater infrastructure improvements.”

Conham Bathing has been campaigning to amend a by-law that prohibits swimming in the river since 2021. In July last year, they launched a petition calling on the council to change the law.

After receiving 5,200 signatures, the petition was debated at a full council meeting, but the mayor chose not to comment and the issue remained unresolved.

“Surely a more effective approach would be to remove the bylaw and address the underlying pollution that’s causing the poor water quality?” said Becca.

“Bylaw or not, people swim at this site and have done so for generations.

“I’m urging the mayor to reconsider his decision from last November and to amend this bylaw so that more can be done to improve the health of the river, and to ensure the public are informed of the water quality.”

Main photo: Conham Bathing

Read next:

• Protestors strip off for wild swimming demonstration
• Swimmers brave the cold in first day of Bristol harbour swimming pilot
• Council blocks hopes of securing ‘special bathing water status’ for Bristol beauty spot
• ‘Education not prohibition should be the answer to wild swimming’

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