FIVE beaches in Cornwall have been flagged as having storm sewage discharges or pollution incidents in the past 48 hours, according to Surfers Against Sewage. 

The Safer Seas & Rivers Service tracks real-time sewage discharge and pollution risks around the UK by monitoring water quality at over 450 river and coastal locations. 

According to the service's interactive map, five different locations in Cornwall have had either storm sewage discharges or pollution incidents in the past 48 hours. These include Long Rock Beach, Porthluney, Crantock Beach, Readymoney Cove, and Harlyn Bay. 

Long Rock Beach, Readymoney Cove, and Harlyn Bay are all flagged with an alert stating: "Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours."

Both Porthluney and Crantock Beach are labeled with alert symbols signifying either a pollution risk is forecast or an incident alert. 

The discharges come less than 24 hours after water companies detailed a five-year plan to prevent sewage overflow spills, but also expect customers to foot the bill.

People will be charged an extra £156 annually to fund overall improvements that seek to stop the 140,000 spills per year.

Providers will invest £96 billion in the second part of the decade — almost double the current levels — in proposals companies say will pay for 10 new reservoirs, cut leaks and stop the equivalent of 6,800 Olympic swimming pools-worth of sewage spills.

The issue has also raised a wider question, "Why shouldn't the shareholders pay?"

Industry body Water UK said private firms had agreed to more than double the number of households that will receive financial support, rising by 2.0 million to 3.2 million, as the sector looks to address public anger over sewage being pumped into beaches and rivers during storms.

Therese Coffey has said “major improvements” were required, having called for water firms to “step up and deliver lasting changes” with its 2025-2030 submission.

Ms Coffey said she has been “very clear” with Ofwat that “customers should not pay the price for poor performance”.

The watchdog, which has faced questions about its ability to regulate the sector, will scrutinise the plans before a final decision is made at the end of next year.