LONDON, Aug. 3 (UPI) -- The purity of water on Britain's beaches is being threatened by overflow systems that unload raw sewage into waters and rivers along the coast, a probe found.
The Times of London reported Sunday it was allowed to view information on 3,500 overflow pipes run by water companies that permit the unregulated dumping of waste into waters along the coast.
"There is no limit on the amount of sewage that can come out of these overflows. They represent a license to pollute," said Thomas Bell, coastal pollution officer of the Marine Conservation Society.
Beach visitors have voiced concerns that hundreds of overflow pipes are being used more often than they should be, the Times said.
The newspaper said people swimming along Britain's beaches have a 14 percent possibility of getting a viral or bacterial infection.
The Environment Agency said new rules were being put in place for the 3,500 overflow pipes.
