Water quality

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Water quality

Postby PipeDreams » Tue Oct 25, 2022 2:35 pm

Here in the UK we have greedy private water companies, and when checking the surf I always check the water quality because I have been frequently exposed to raw sewage, been dumped on (not literally) by the pipes in the water whilst surfing at my local break, caught lots of appropriate sicknesses from the water (I'll let your imagination suggest what I mean by that :spew:) and probably been saved by a quick coca cola many a time, it's terrible, but when I travel even just across the UK these problems hardly seem to exist, and definitely not to the same extent that they do at home. I am curious about your local breaks or surf regions and if they suffer from this?
Today for example a good portion of the UK is un-bathable, and specifically the south coast (where I am), as shown by this Surfers Against Sewage post.
Stay safe and don't get cholera!
https://www.instagram.com/p/CkF-62bAo2Z/
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Re: Water quality

Postby jaffa1949 » Tue Oct 25, 2022 4:13 pm

Morocco has some pretty questionable breaks with septic tank seepage run across the rocks into the surf zone, wear booties and the wave is possibly infected, some stream borne infections in Bali at the mouth of the stream.
Britain is fairly third world in its sewerage disposal attitudes.
Inland surf spots can have either or both sewerage and algae infections and irritations, there is also leptospirosis from contact with semistagnant water, river surf gets wildlife excrement mixed with heavier rainfalls.
The belief that ocean outfalls and ocean disposal is third world out of sight out of mind.
There are other issues in tropical waters, coral cuts are very infectious.
forget sharks etc, it is the microbes and parasites that will get you :lol:
Imagine what could be in the tidal bores around the world!
I've taken up troll hunting just for fun, instead of a rifle I'll just use a pun! 冲浪爷爷
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Re: Water quality

Postby oldmansurfer » Tue Oct 25, 2022 9:03 pm

Where I live the Surfrider foundation is on the ball checking water quality. I generally just go out if I feel like it without concern for the water quality as there have been no problems for me so far no matter how much bacteria the water has. I try not to drink the ocean water as much as possible and take care of any wounds I have and bath after surfing. I also try to paddle strongly and evenly so as not to imitate a wounded fish
So what is worse.... dying or regretting it for the rest of my life? Obviously I chose not regretting it.
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Re: Water quality

Postby Naeco78 » Fri Oct 28, 2022 3:48 am

I try to avoid jetties after it rains because they build storm drains inside lots of them. But usually the best surf is found right off the jetties after a strong storm :bang:
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