Shock as water company boss talks common sense

The boss of South West Water, one of the UK's biggest water companies seems to have caused alarm among some who should know better (like the ex Minister for Poo, Ben Bradshaw) by talking common sense. He said that he wouldn't swim at Combe Martin after heavy rainfall because of the likelihood of contamination from combined sewers.

This is something that all surfers, and wild swimmers like David Walliams, know from experience. SAS operate an excellent real time sewage alert service but this only covers the top quality bathing waters. At other places - like all my home breaks - there is no automatic warning system. Some Councils have erected permanent signs warning water users, but they should be putting up warning signs and issuing online / social media warnings after heavy rainfall.