Check Before You Go: Helping families enjoy the water safely this summer
Whether you’re planning a family beach day, a paddle in the river, or your child’s next school trip, there’s one thing we believe should become as routine as checking the weather: checking the water quality.
Today, we’re launching our new Check Before You Go guide – a free, printable resource created with Julie Maughan, whose daughter Heather tragically died after swimming in dirty water in 1999.
Designed for both parents and carers and Educational Visits Coordinators (EVCs), the guide helps people make informed decisions before spending time in or around rivers, lakes and the sea.
Download and print the Check Before You Go guide today.
Get the free guide for families
Why we’ve created this guide
Millions of children enjoy the UK’s blue spaces every year, whether on school trips, family holidays or days out with clubs and youth groups. These experiences are hugely valuable, building confidence, supporting wellbeing and creating lifelong memories.
But sewage pollution presents a risk that many people simply aren’t aware of.
Children are among the most vulnerable to illnesses caused by pathogens such as E. coli, which can enter rivers and coastal waters through sewage pollution. While serious illness is rare, the consequences can be devastating.
Heather Preen was just eight years old when she died from Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome after developing an E. coli O157 infection. Although the exact source of her infection could never be confirmed, the coroner concluded that environmental sources, including contact with raw sewage, had not been ruled out and should be considered.
For more than 25 years, Heather’s mum Julie has campaigned tirelessly so that no other family experiences the same loss. We’re incredibly proud to have worked with Julie to create this guide, turning her decades of campaigning into practical advice that anyone can use.
A simple check that could make a big difference
Just as we’d check the weather before heading to the beach, we should also check whether sewage pollution could affect the water.
Our free Safer Seas & Rivers Service (SSRS) app provides real-time pollution alerts and water quality information for beaches, rivers and lakes across the UK, helping families and schools make informed decisions.
The guide also reminds people that:
- You don’t have to be swimming to be at risk. Paddling, rock pooling and playing near the water can also lead to exposure.
- Heavy rainfall can increase the likelihood of sewage overflows.
- Covering cuts, washing hands and avoiding swallowing water all help reduce risk.
- Knowing the symptoms of waterborne illness means people can seek medical advice quickly if needed.
Supporting schools to fill an important gap
One version of the guide has been created specifically for Educational Visits Coordinators (EVCs) – the staff members responsible for approving and risk assessing school trips.
Current Outdoor Education Advisers’ Panel (OEAP) guidance covers hazards such as tides, currents and drowning, but it does not specifically identify sewage pollution or E. coli as a risk that schools should consider when planning visits near water.
Our guide isn’t intended to replace existing guidance. Instead, it provides a simple additional step that can easily be incorporated into existing risk assessments:
- Check the SSRS app before confirming the visit.
- Check again on the day.
- Know what to do if water quality is poor.
With every school having an EVC responsible for off-site visits, this simple addition has the potential to help protect thousands of children enjoying outdoor learning every year.
Why this matters now
The launch comes at an important moment.
The Department for Education is currently reviewing the statutory Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) guidance, including whether water safety should become part of the curriculum.
At the same time, the new national curriculum will strengthen teaching around climate change and environmental responsibility.
Our Check Before You Go guide provides practical, ready-to-use resources that support these conversations today while helping schools and families take action immediately.
Download the guide for families
Every child deserves to enjoy the water safely
At Surfers Against Sewage, we want everyone to experience the joy of our rivers, lakes and coastlines safely.
Checking water quality takes just a few moments, but it could prevent illness and help families make informed decisions about where and when to enjoy the water.
That’s why we’re asking parents, carers, schools, youth groups and outdoor organisations to make Check Before You Go part of every visit near water.
Together, we can help ensure that children continue making happy memories by the water — safely.
Download your free Check Before You Go guide today. ⬇️
Download the guide for families
Created by Surfers Against Sewage in partnership with Julie Maughan, in memory of Heather Preen.