Sandbanks swimmers say sewage discharges are stopping them going into the water at millionaires' playground

See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source Published: 11:25 EDT, 13 September 2026 | Updated: 14:12 EDT, 13 September 2026 Furious swimmers in the millionaires' playground of Sandbanks were forced to cancel their weekly swim after sewage was dumped in the sea. East Dorset Open Water Swimming Club have blamed Wessex Water for sewage discharges off Blue Flag beach in Poole, Dorset, following recent heavy rainfall. The swimming club were forced to cancel their weekly event last Tuesday because the sewage 'posed a real risk' to the health and safety of attendees. Swimming instructor Elizabeth Mills said she was 'furious' that water companies are permitted to dump sewage at popular swim spots. She said: 'We've had to cancel our weekly East Dorset Open Water Swimming Club swim for the safety of our swimmers.'We got an alert from the Surfers Against Sewage app that Wessex Water had dumped a load of sewage at our swimming spot at Shore Road.'There was a brown sludge in the sea when we went down there and we saw one person in the water who stopped swimming and got out.'It is a beautiful Blue Flag beach and I think it is disgusting that the water companies are allowed to dump sewage into the sea and pollute it.' East Dorset Open Water Swimming Club have blamed Wessex Water for sewage discharges off Blue Flag beach in Poole, Dorset, following heavy rain (swimmers are pictured) Furious swimmers in the millionaire's playground of Sandbanks say they were forced to cancel their weekly meet swim after sewage was dumped in the seaThe swimming instructor said while the club was alerted to the presence of sewage in the water by an app, unsuspecting tourists may risk falling ill. East Dorset Open Water Swimming Club said on their Facebook page: 'After careful consideration, and as it's our swimming club's duty of care to keep everyone safe, we have had to make the decision to cancel tonight's swim. 'We are truly sorry. If you feel the need to take action, please download the Surfers Against Sewage App. There is a link on there to write to our MPs and the water companies responsible. Thank you.'Last month, two young girls were hospitalised with bacterial infections after swimming and paddleboarding in Christchurch Harbour along the south coast. Keeva Hollow, eight, was hospitalised with campylobacter after swimming off Avon Beach, close to the entrance to the harbour.She swallowed some water when she was hit by a wave and within 24 hours was ill with a high temperature and diarrhoea.Keeva was rushed to A&E and was placed on an IV drip. She is still not fully recovered a month later and her family haven't gone in the water since. Her mother, Aisling McCarthy, said: 'She lost a lot of weight because she didn't really eat for two weeks, that was a really worrying time. The hospital found campylobacter, which can be caused by water pollution or food contamination.' Keeva's mother Aisling McCarthy said: 'She lost a lot of weight because she didn't really eat for two weeks, that was a really worrying time.' (Keeva is pictured left) Keeva Hollow, eight, was hospitalised with campylobacter after swimming off Avon Beach, close to the entrance to the harbourMore than 500 people attended a meeting in Christchurch last week to challenge Wessex Water and the Environment Agency about the state of the waterways.Wessex Water confirmed there were four sewage discharges at Shore Road in Sandbanks on Tuesday afternoon.A spokesman said: 'While licensed overflows discharge mostly rainwater and groundwater, we agree they are outdated and we're spending more than £8million every month on schemes to reduce how often they operate in our region.'Meanwhile, record investment in sewage treatment and infrastructure - including a programme of sewer relining in Shore Road this summer - is further safeguarding our region's excellent beaches.'More widely, we believe rainwater should be better managed and returned to the environment close to where it falls rather than draining into sewers.'Alongside our ongoing investment, this requires the political understanding and will to bring forward policies in government that promote best practice in rainwater management at source.'An Environment Agency spokesman said: 'We take our role in improving water quality very seriously.'We are holding water companies to account by requiring water companies to make thousands of improvements, such as repairing sewage works and upgrading infrastructure.'