A WATER company has provided an update after it released sewage across 13 beaches following heavy rainfall.

There was outrage after a video emerged on social media showing a large mass of brown sewage from an outfall pipe near Splash Point in Seaford yesterday afternoon.

The sewage dump could be seen unfurling in the water as currents took it eastwards down the coastline towards Seaford Head cliffs.

Southern Water said that dry ground due to recent hot weather causes more surface run-off than usual which led to overflows.

The Argus: The sewage came from an outfall pipe on this groyne in SeafordThe sewage came from an outfall pipe on this groyne in Seaford

A spokeswoman said: “Yesterday’s thunderstorms brought heavy rain which fell onto parched ground and couldn’t absorb surface run-off, meaning that more rain than usual overwhelmed our network.

“This led to some overflows – which are used to protect homes, schools, businesses and hospitals from flooding – spilling excess water into the sea in parts of Sussex, including Seaford.

"These discharges are heavily diluted and typically 95 per cent of them are rainwater.

“We are dedicated to significantly reducing storm overflows and are running innovative pilot schemes across the region to reduce the amount of rainfall entering our combined sewers by 2030.”

The video, filmed by Seaford resident Martyn Craddock, has amassed more than 1 million views and 10,000 shares, prompting outrage online.

Surfers Against Sewage, a charity against ocean pollution, described the sewage releases across the South coast as a “horrifying sight”.

The Argus: The sewage flowed towards Seaford Head, picturedThe sewage flowed towards Seaford Head, pictured

The charity added that after a rainy day, sewage “spews into our waterways”.

One Facebook user responded to the video saying she is “sick of swimming in raw sewage”.

While a man posted online to say he feels “physically sick” after recently swimming at Seaford beach.

Almost 50 beaches in England and Wales have been hit with sewage releases following rainfall on Monday.

In Sussex, beaches affected by the sewage releases are in Bognor, Bognor East, Felpham, Littlehampton, Worthing, Lancing, Shoreham, Southwick, Saltdean, Seaford, Eastbourne, Pevensey Bay and Bexhill.