Sewage, Water Advisories Hit US, UK Beaches

Recent infrastructure failures and sewage overflows have prompted water quality crises and public health warnings in the U.S. and U.K. Boil water advisories were issued in King William County, Virginia; Sandy Creek, Texas; and Pendleton, South Carolina following water main breaks and flooding, with residents urged to boil water before use. In Williamson County, Tennessee, repeated raw sewage leaks from the aging Limestone Water Treatment Plant contaminated local waterways, leading to emergency remediation. Heavy storms in Cleveland, Ohio, caused millions of gallons of sewage to overflow into Lake Erie at Edgewater Beach, resulting in swimmer advisories. Aberdeen beach in Scotland also faced temporary bans on swimming due to sewage discharge after a wastewater plant power outage. Nearly 60% of Rhode Island beaches tested recorded at least one unsafe bacteria level in 2024, underscoring the broader public health risks from sewage and stormwater contamination.