Milla Magee, Miss England and dedicated lifeguard, halts training for upcoming Miss World championships to highlight the escalating public health and environmental crisis caused by raw sewage discharges off Cornwall’s coast.
Miss England, Milla Magee, has announced a pause in her training for the upcoming Miss World championships due to the alarming rise in raw sewage discharges off the coast of her hometown in Cornwall. At just 24 years old, Magee has established herself not only as a beauty queen but also as a dedicated lifeguard and passionate surfer, fully immersed in the coastal lifestyle.
Magee had been preparing for her trip to India, scheduled for Wednesday, when the repeated sewage spills prompted her to voice her concerns about what she described as “a public health crisis.” She highlighted the negative impacts these discharges have on both the environment and public health. “As we bid farewell to winter, the days start getting longer, the sun is shining, we want to enjoy our beaches. However, this rise in pollution just simply isn’t safe,” she stated.
As an environmental advocate, Magee has aligned herself with Surfers Against Sewage, a UK charity focused on ending sewage discharges in bathing waters by 2030. This coalition reflects a growing concern among coastal communities about the safety and cleanliness of their local waters. “We need urgent action to protect our coastlines and keep the ocean a place of healing, not harm,” she added, stressing the importance of community involvement in this cause.
The issue of sewage pollution is increasingly pressing. Recent data indicates that in 2022, raw sewage was dumped into England’s waters for over 3.6 million hours, marking a significant rise from previous years—1.75 million hours in 2021 and 2.5 million in 2020. While the Environment Agency reported a decrease in the number of individual spills, the average duration of each incident has alarmingly increased. Major areas affected by these spills include Salcombe and Chittlehamholt in Devon, as well as Duloe in Cornwall, where incidents occurred nearly daily.
The situation contributes to troubling statistics regarding England’s water quality. As of 2023, only 16 percent of England’s surface waters were classified as having ‘good’ ecological status, a stark contrast to Scotland’s 66 percent. This discrepancy raises questions about environmental management and the effectiveness of regulatory oversight.
Southern Water, which has faced criticism for its environmental practices, is under scrutiny once again, particularly after announcing plans to increase customer bills—the highest among UK water companies—over the next five years. This follows a history of misconduct that includes convictions related to obstructing Environment Agency investigations and a £90 million fine for illegal discharges.
Magee’s experience and advocacy illuminate the interconnectedness of local health, environmental stewardship, and community wellbeing. Her commitment to surf culture and public health has positioned her as a notable voice in the ongoing dialogue about water safety in Britain, urging the public to engage with organisations like Surfers Against Sewage and participate in conservation efforts. As she prepares for her international debut, her call for action resonates with many who share her love for the ocean.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.reuters.com/wider-image/great-british-sewage-dump-2025-03-14/ – This article discusses the significant rise in raw sewage discharges in the UK, with water companies discharging sewage for 3.6 million hours in 2023, leading to widespread pollution of waterways and public health concerns.
- https://www.ft.com/content/32dc86dd-d1fb-4d40-a199-c2f2d343cf0f – This report highlights the record number of raw sewage discharges in England and Wales in 2023, with 464,056 incidents, a 54% increase from the previous year, and the associated environmental and public health impacts.
- https://www.sas.org.uk/updates/2023-water-quality-report/ – Surfers Against Sewage’s annual report reveals that in 2023, untreated sewage was discharged more than 399,864 times into UK waterways, leading to numerous cases of illness among water users.
- https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/cornwall-beaches-water-quality-sewage-7879002 – This article reports that Cornwall’s beaches have some of the highest quality bathing water in the UK, despite previous pollution alerts and concerns over sewage discharges.
- https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/nov/21/most-inland-bathing-spots-in-uk-have-unsafe-levels-of-pollution-report-finds – This report finds that many inland bathing spots in the UK have unsafe pollution levels, with 24 out of 40 locations deemed ‘poor’ quality, highlighting widespread water contamination issues.
- https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cqvpj0w6xveo – This article discusses the rise in reported sickness cases from water users, with nearly 2,000 people reporting illness after being in UK waters during the bathing season, underscoring the public health impact of water pollution.
- https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14678175/Miss-England-surfer-world-championships-sewage.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490 – Please view link – unable to able to access data
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
Narrative references 2022 sewage discharge data and Southern Water’s recent bill increase plans, indicating current relevance. No evidence of recycled press releases found.
Quotes check
Score:
6
Notes:
Magee’s quotes about sewage pollution appear original but lack independent verification via third-party sources. Surfers Against Sewage affiliation corroborated through external evidence of the charity’s existence.
Source reliability
Score:
6
Notes:
Narrative originates from the Daily Mail, which holds mixed credibility assessments. Environmental statistics align with known UK water quality debates but require cross-referencing.
Plausability check
Score:
7
Notes:
Sewage discharge patterns and water quality statistics match established environmental concerns. Southern Water’s regulatory history increases plausibility of current scrutiny.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
Narrative demonstrates alignment with verified environmental concerns and organisational affiliations, though Daily Mail’s reporting history necessitates cautious interpretation of unreferenced claims.
