What’s happening?
This September, a team of 8 world-class swimmers will swim the length of Thames in a non-stop, 200+km, 3-day relay, finishing at the heart of Government in Westminster. The Thames Swim Against Sewage is an epic, first of its kind endurance event to raise awareness of the scale of pollution in our rivers, lakes and seas, calling on the Government to end sewage pollution in the places we love to swim, surf and play.
The event aims to be more than an endurance challenge though – it’s a catalyst to unite and drive change. It will unite world class athletes from England, Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland with Surfers Against Sewage and the incredible communities & citizen scientists who have been working tirelessly to protect their own stretch of the river. Together we’ll bring community action, hard–hitting data and the weight of public support to the front bench at a pivotal moment as MPs return to Parliament.
Because let’s be clear. Our current water system is well and truly broken. And the time for action is now.
Why now?
In 2024 alone, there were almost a half a million (464,056) sewage discharges across the UK, creating a human health and environmental crisis. And that’s just from the data we have access to. The real number is likely to be more likely just under a million. This isn’t just dirty water. It’s a national scandal that choses profit over its duty to protect people or environment.
We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to fix this broken system. An Independent Commission has just made recommendations for the future of the water industry, and the Government is reviewing the very regulations that are supposed to protect us at our bathing waters. The problem? The proposals on the table fall massively short and could even weaken protections, not putting people or the planet first.
As Parliament returns, it’s time to turn up the heat. Water users, communities, and everyday people are demanding change — and we’ll be taking that message straight to the heart of government. Tinkering around the edges won’t cut it. To end the sewage scandal, we need wholesale reform. A new water system that works for people and planet, not profit and power.
