Wastewater leaking into the sea is suspected of making members of a swimming group in Swansea sick

The leader of an open water swimming group said some members had complained of stomach problems and classes had to be cancelled because the storm sewer system was overflowing.

Gower Open Water Swim Training has 120 members aged between 20 and 70. Groups of around 12 to 14 people head out to sea at Langland Bay, Swansea, during individual training sessions which vary weekly depending on water levels and tides. It is the National Open Water Coaching Association's first venue in Wales.

Howard Middleton-Jones is the group's coordinator and trainer. He said members relied on published information about sewage overflow activations to decide when it was safe to go swimming. However, he explained that despite taking all precautions, some members still got stomach problems afterward. Subscribe to our newsletter here to receive the latest news from Swansea.

READ MORE: There is no longer any danger of bathing at these 19 beaches due to disease and diarrhoea warnings

READ MORE: 15 beautiful Welsh hikes with great restaurants at the end

He claimed that the storm surge spillway near Knab Rock, which affects water in Bracelet, Limeslade and Langland bays, was in operation for seven hours on August 13.

Mr Middleton-Jones said: “I have been swimming there for over 60 years and was a volunteer lifeguard in the 60s and 70s, so I know the winds and which way they are blowing on the coast. We decide 24 hours beforehand if there has been a storm and whether to go in or not, but we recommend not going in the water for 24 to 72 hours after a storm.

“We swim in Langland but when the drain is operating, Bracelet, Limeslade and Langland Bay are affected. We are in the water for an average of 35-45 minutes and swim out to the middle of the bay, so we are at higher risk of catching something if there is something in the water. We have had a few swimmers complaining of stomach problems. Those who only go in the water for a short time may not be affected but I tend to apply the 'do not swim for long periods until 72 hours have passed' (after the sewage discharge) rule used by many organisations, particularly if the swimmer's immune system is compromised.

“On August 13th there was a seven hour long drain that resulted in quite a bit of sewage getting into the water. You don't always see that but a few paddleboarders saw that. I had already cancelled the swim at that point because a lot of our swimmers have underlying conditions and weak immune systems so you have to be careful and I always advise people when something happens like a storm to let it be up to them whether they want to get in the water or not. With bacterial infections sometimes it can take two, three, four days for something to come out so you can't tell exactly where you caught the infection but in the last few months there has been an increase in cases of regular swimmers getting sick.”

Speaking about the group's popularity, Mr Middleton-Jones explained how it has grown during the coronavirus pandemic. He said: “A lot of people realised it was a healthy and educational exercise. We also offer a lot of introductory sessions to open water swimming, where people learn how to cope with the colder water, how to avoid accidents, where to swim and the like.

“As long as it's done with caution, it stimulates circulation and helps with breathing and breathing technique. We have some members who suffer from depression and they find that the open water and the light give them a boost and help them with that. It has a comprehensive physical and psychological effect on the body.”

If you would like to join the group for a swimming lesson, send an email [email protected] to register your interest or visit the Gower Open Water Swim Training Facebook page by clicking here. Sessions are free.

A Welsh Water spokesperson said: “We can confirm that the storm overflow at Knab Rock temporarily overflowed during the rainfall on 13 August. This was published at the time on the Event Duration Monitoring (EDM) map on our website, which currently monitors when storm overflows occur at bathing waters.

“There are a number of factors that can affect water quality including surface water runoff, illegal misconnections, rural land use and poorly maintained private septic tanks. However, it is important to note that Langland Bay has achieved excellent bathing water status over the last decade.

“We take seriously the important role we play – together with others – in protecting bathing water quality. This is demonstrated by the more than £1.5 billion we have invested in our wastewater network over the last decade. This has helped Wales to have more than a quarter of Blue Flag beaches on just 15% of the coastline.”