Newsletter MAY 2002

SEWAGE WORKS ALTERNATIVE SITES BLUNDERS

The Environment Agency soon is likely to grant the sewage discharge consent license for the proposed works extension at Longnose Spit/Foreness Point. The EC regulations require an upgrading of the works to be completed by December 31 st 2003. The FEA are blamed for incurring a 3-year delay. Both roc and the Council for the Protection of Rural England also opposed the site. Had the investigation now being carried out by the EA/DEFRA/Local Government/Southern Water/English Nature taken place at the time requested by the PEA the delay would have been avoided! The main reason for rejecting Weatherlees as the site is that the proposed route of the sewerage transfer pipeline (needed from Margate) crosses two aquifers. But an alternative pipe laying route proposed by FEA three-years ago does not. no.

Incredibly, not a single reason was included by Southern Water as to why Longnose Spit/Foreness Point should be rejected. By comparison, the six alternative sites 'considered' are given reasons for rejection that are trivial. None has greater designated conservation protection than Longnose Spit and the cliff face: Special Site of Scientific Interest (SSSI), European Special Area of Conservation (SAC), Ramsar Site, Public Amenity Land, Designated Bathing Beach.

Thankfully, TDC (but not KCC) respect conservation issues and so hold a well- publicised policy not to sell the land at Foreness. But Southern Water could apply for a Compulsory Purchase Order. This would lead to a Public Inquiry. Or Southern Water could submit a new planning application in order to advance technological improvements that whilst benefiting the environment would further ruin Foreness Point as amenity land.

Building the extension at the Weatherlees brownfield site would allow for installation of both storm sewage storage tanks and chemical pollutant stripping units (e.g. Biomembrane Reactors). Chemical stripping must become mandatory anyway in EC Directives for around years 2005-2015. Since the water recovered from sewage is thereby rendered virtually pure there is no longer any need for discharge through Long Sea Outfalls (LSOs ). It could be used e.g. to replenish the river Stour (depleted by extractions). But neither Southern Water nor our regulatory authorities pursue well-known needs for the future.

Good Beach Guide (GBG) -produced annually by the Marine Conservation Society (MCS). Lists all beaches in the UK and recommends those that have achieved the highest water quality standards and are not affected by any untreated sewage discharges. Thanet beaches fail the criteria. Highest rating order available. www.goodbeachguide.co.uk

Blue Flag- Annual European award run by ENCAMS (Tidy Britain Group) for well managed resort beaches that achieve the EC Guideline water quality standard. Middle order rateing. www.seasideawal'ds.org.uklbluel.htm

Seaside Award -Annual UK award run by ENCAMS for well maintained resort and rural beaches that achieve the EC Mandatory quality standard that is 20-fold lower than EC Guideline Standard. Beaches polluted by inadequately treated sewage are included. The lowest order rateing award available.

Although the EC Bathing Water Directive 1976 desires the monitoring of Enterovirus and Salmonella here our government fails in compliance, and monitors only coliforms and streptococci as faecal indicators. Therefore the criteria used in the foregoing Thanet Beach Awards are based on limited data only. Thus those Seaside Award beaches which pass the current Mandatory Standard still present a health hazard to bathers.

The reformed Bathing Water Directive 2002 is expected to be published in June 2002 and to adopt the Guideline Standard as mandatory, and introduce mandatory monitoring of Enterovirus. It is most unlikely that all Thanet beaches will invariably attain the reformed standard following building of the proposed sewage works extension at Longnose Spit/Foreness Point for a period lasting roughly 1-3 days following stormwater sewage discharge (at least 10 times per year). www.seasideawards.org 

Childhood Diabetes from Seabathing?

The Coxsackie B virus is commonly found. Though not causative of gastroenteritis, the specific viral infection is transferred by the respiratory and faecal-oral route. Recent studies by Dr Mark Peakman (Guy's, King's & St.Thomas' Medical School), following on from other researchers, have shown that particularly Coxsackie B4 virus likely triggers acute onset of insulin-dependent diabetes in young children. This is a disease much on the increase. The virus invades certain organs of the body including the pancreas gland that produces insulin.

It is firmly established in the scientific literature that many other types of I pathogenic viruses (e.g. Hepatitis, Polio) occur in sewage effluent. There is urgent need therefore to find any level of Coxsackie B virus in sewage and then in the bathing water at beaches impacted by discharge of crude (non-disinfected) sewage and of sewage stormwater.

An epidemiological study is also called-for in order to determine whether the incidence of childhood diabetes is raised when living in coastal regions of sewage discharge. This with the reminder that wind-borne aerosol of seawater is known to transport viruses.

FORENESS ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION May 23rd 2002 Full references available on request