Southern Water Incident

We have been alerted by Southern Water to an incident at the Margate Wastewater Pumping Station following a lightning strike overnight (Thursday 17 June).

As a result of this incident, wastewater was released via the emergency outfall of the Southern Water pumping station at Foreness.

In liaison with the Environment Agency, we are now advising members of the public not to enter the sea or the area of beach below the high water mark. This is on bays between West Bay and Joss Bay. 

This includes:

• West Bay
• St Mildreds Bay
• Westbrook
• Margate Main Sands
• Walpole Bay
• Palm Bay
• Foreness
• Botany Bay
• Kingsgate Bay
• Joss Bay

Signs have been placed on these bays to inform beach users. 

Southern Water has confirmed that the pumping station is now operating as it should and it will continue to be closely monitored.

A beach clean up has been underway today.

Thanet District Council teams are also out to assess the impact and will continue to monitor the situation closely. 

The Environment Agency will be completing water quality testing in the area which will help inform the next steps.

As soon as we are able to lift the advice against bathing we will do so and we will continue to keep beach users and the wider public updated.