It’s time to #EndSewagePollution once and for all.
Raw sewage is being dumped into our seas, lakes and rivers on an industrial scale – almost a million times last year alone. While people get sick and nature suffers, polluters profit and the regulators turn a blind eye. The system isn’t just broken, it’s rigged.
But we’re not going to stand for it. Together, we can end the sewage scandal – for people, planet and the wild blue spaces we all love. We’re building a nationwide movement. Using citizen science and hard data to expose the truth. Taking bold, creative action to pile pressure on those in power. All to hold polluters accountable and get the lasting change we need.
We’re fighting filth with facts, fury and action – paddles up, gloves off.
From beachside to frontbench, we’re bringing the roar of our communities straight to those in power. Get involved with the #EndSewagePollution campaign and help us win transformational reform of the water industry - for a system that serves people and planet, not profiteers.
Fed up of action not being taken to clean up your local beach, river or lake? Our Protecting Wild Waters team helps communities push for bathing water designation - so swim spots get tested, pollution gets exposed, and regulators are held to account. With citizen science and community power, we’re taking matters into our own hands.
Don’t swim in sewage - fight it. Download the Safer Seas & Rivers Service (SSRS) app or check our online map for real-time alerts at your favourite surf, swim and paddle spots. Arm yourself with the facts to help keep you and your loved ones safe.
Discover how data can fuel your fight to protect your local beach, river or lake. Our online Data HQ is a powerful tool to further research, empower communities and drive change. Explore the stories, stats and shocking truth behind the sewage scandal.
Decades of neglect and underinvestment have left the UK with some of the worst bathing waters in Europe. In 2024 alone, there were 592,478 confirmed sewage discharges – but with underreporting in Scotland and Northern Ireland, we estimate the real figure to be near 1 million. That’s the equivalent of sewage pouring into our waters every 30 seconds.
The current state of our waterways is a public health disaster. Communities using their local beaches, rivers and lakes are being exposed to a toxic mix of human waste, microplastics, heavy metals, drug-resistant bacteria, and ‘forever chemicals’ linked to cancers and organ damage. In 2024, SAS received 1,853 sickness reports, which led to 3,425 sick days and nearly half a million pounds in lost productivity. And that’s just what we know about – most cases still go unreported.
Sewage is also devastating entire ecosystems. It smothers vital habitats like seagrass meadows and kelp forests – natural carbon sinks that help fight climate change – while disrupting delicate food chains and reducing biodiversity. The influx of nutrients from sewage fuels harmful algae blooms that deplete oxygen levels, creating ‘dead zones’ where fish and other marine life can no longer survive. Over time, this leaves our seas, lakes and rivers less able to support life or recover from environmental shocks.
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The water system as it currently exists is built to make pollution profitable and protect those responsible.
Since privatisation, water companies in England and Wales have paid out £74.2 billion in dividends to shareholders – while piling up £69.2 billion in debt.
This profit-first model has left our sewage system dangerously underfunded. Vital upgrades and maintenance have been delayed or abandoned altogether, allowing pollution to pour into our waters unchecked. All while customers are expected to pay more – bills are set to rise by at least 36% over the next 5 years. Yet, without a serious shift in the way our money is spent, we’ll still risk getting sick when we swim, surf or paddle.
And the regulators? They’re not stepping in. Chronically underfunded and lacking teeth, bodies like Ofwat and the Environment Agency have failed to hold polluters to account. In some cases, they’ve even approved the payouts while infrastructure falls apart.
Sadly, the situation is not much better in Northern Ireland and Scotland. Poor transparency and a lack of comprehensive monitoring mean the true scale of sewage discharges is unknown. Those in charge have chosen to downplay or obscure the problem, creating a data vacuum that allows pollution to continue unchecked and unchallenged.
This is a UK-wide scandal. A rigged system built on greed, weak oversight and systemic failure. It rewards pollution, punishes the public and we’ve had enough. It’s time to end this sh*t show.
We need a water system that is fully transparent and accountable – one that works for people and planet, not profit and power.
We’re calling for radical reform of the broken water industry to guarantee safe seas, rivers and lakes, all year round. There are five key principles a new system must include to #EndSewagePollution. Hit the button below to find out what they are.
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