Surfers Against Sewage

Today marks the winter solstice. Traditionally the moment when the sun dies on the darkest night of the year, only to be reborn again and start the journey towards summer. For us all it is a moment of reflection and change, whether it's celebrating the season, getting in for a chilly dip or scraping the ice off the inside of your van to check the surf. #oceanactivists

Introducing The Ripple Effect: a citizen science report that that shines a light on outdated bathing water legislation. This report would not have been possible without the dedication of community campaigners who tirelessly fight to expose the truth and improve the state of our waterways. The Ripple Effect outlines three key demands for reforming bathing water regulations: 📢 Demand 1: Year-round testing We use our waterways all year round, and the legislation must reflect this. Citizen scientists have shown that 77% of the sites they monitored were classified as ‘poor’. And if you swim outside the bathing season, you're twice as likely to put your health at risk. 📢 Demand 2: More than swimmers We're a nation of swimmers, surfers, paddleboarders, kayakers, and anglers. We love participating in events – whether it's the Great North Swim or one of our many sailing regattas. Yet, at the moment only bathers are considered when designating bathing waters. This needs to change. All water users deserve protection from poor water quality. 📢 Demand 3: Testing for emerging pollutants Bathing waters are currently monitored for just two types of bacteria, but there are many more pollutants that can harm the health of you and your waterway. Thanks to recent study by 23 of our citizen science communities across the UK, it was revealed that our bathing waters are exposed to pharmaceuticals, pesticides and industrial chemicals 🤢🤮 You can have your say on how and when you use your local rivers, beaches, and lakes. The government is consulting on reforming the Bathing Water Regulations in England and Wales. Submit your response by 23rd December using our guidance. And you don't need to be an expert, you just need to love your water. Credit photos: Emma Stoner, Duncan Nicholls, Joe Wainwright You can read the full report here - https://lnkd.in/e_3p5NtZ

🚨The 💩show continues🚨 Ofwat and the government are asking the public to throw good money after bad and pump yet more of their hard-earned cash into a system geared towards making profit for industry. 📢The obscene reality is that a third of every pound a customer pays is lost to industry debt and dividends, and not to cleaning up our rivers, lakes and seas. This is truly the nightmare before Christmas for a cash-strapped public and signs that even under a new government, the sewage scandal rumbles on. ❌No wonder some brave billpayers are taking a stand and refusing to pay into this failed system. We’re under no illusions that the water system needs urgent investment but Ofwat doing the same thing and expecting different results is sheer insanity. It is why we have to put more pressure on government and the The Water (Special Measures) Bill, to ban any bailout of water company debt and shareholders using taxpayer or customer money, please sign the petition - https://lnkd.in/gNN6FBEE

Did you know that “Excellent” or “Good” water quality is based on a maximum of 20 tests at a bathing site? That’s one a week, for the bathing period. In the summer. When there are far fewer pollution events. What about the other 7 months of the year? (Or other 6 days of the week.) And in Scotland and Northern Ireland the bathing season is just 15 weeks a year. We use our waterways year-round and need the bathing season to reflect that. You can have your say in telling the government how and when you use our rivers, lakes and beaches. The government are consulting RIGHT NOW on the Bathing Water Regulations in England and Wales. And we have all the guidance you need to respond - https://lnkd.in/eCe6AjDw

Scottish Water have published their live 'overflow' map this week. As always we welcome this transparency, and it will allow surfers, swimmers and paddlers to have real time pollution updates to some of the most spectacular areas of water in the UK. Sadly it also highlights that the issues of sewage pollution are not just restricted to privatised companies in England, and lack of investment over decades in our sewage infrastructure spans all four nations. As we post this, sewage is being discharged at the harbour mouth in Thurso. That means it's flowing out through the line-up of arguably the UK's best wave, Thurso East, past host of world tour events, and one of the cradles of Scottish surfing...😠 You can find the live map here - https://lnkd.in/eRdy6GWc

🚨 It's no surprise, but finally the Office of Environmental Protection (OEP) have concluded that the government and regulators have broken the law by being too lenient on water companies that 'spill' sewage. 🚨 📢 The OEP said sewage releases should only be allowed in exceptional circumstances, such as during unusually heavy rainfall, but that "this has not always been the case". 📢 It's time for the government to live up to its promises and start holding water companies to account, and even more important that we keep up the pressure. You can help by signing our petition to ban water company bailouts - https://lnkd.in/efsmwMPw

Today we joined the community of Hayle in protest of South West Water. Their pollution-for-profit business model and lack of transparency make us sick. They are putting people's health and the health of our seas at risk. 🤮💩 We demand SWW cut the crap. And we demand that the government remove the Bailouts provision from the Water (Special Measures) Bill due to be passed through Parliament very soon. You can help make sure that billpayers and taxpayers don't have to pay off water company debts and shareholders by joining our calls and signing the petition: https://lnkd.in/ec2RUg8V #BanTheBailouts #EndSewagePollution #OceanActivists

Ocean Activists, you are the heart of our work. You fuel our campaigns. Stand up against profiteering polluters. Paddle out. Protest. Shout. And win. ✊👏 We've made some great progress this year. Together with your vital support we: ☑️ Held the biggest paddle-out protest and showed polluters and politicians what #PeoplePower really means ☑️ Made sewage pollution a key issue in the general election, toured and held hustings in every corner of the UK to demand cleaner policies ☑️ Worked with communities across the UK and helped 27 new bathing sites to be designated, many of which are inland ☑️ Held a seat at the table with policymakers and water company bosses to demand an end to sewage pollution ☑️ Made progress on Bathing Water Regulations demanding better protection for the places where we love to swim, paddle and surf ☑️ Continued to challenge water companies to be more transparent and cut the crap ☑️ Marched for Nature and Clean Water in the streets of London ☑️ Empowered communities across the UK to test the water quality in their local area And it's not over yet. We're here to campaign for our rivers, lakes and seas. To push those in power to make the right decisions for their future. To put people and planet before profits. We're demanding the government #BanTheBailouts so that water companies can't continue to pollute, pay dividends and bonuses while racking up debt, and expect us to pay for it. And next year, we'll continue to stand together and fight for a thriving ocean, thriving people. All donations up to £55,000 have been match-funded to raise £110,00! You can still donate by 12pm today: https://lnkd.in/eQCg9cZp Every little helps fuel our work. THANK YOU! 🙌🌊 #ChristmasChallenge #EndSewagePollution #EndPlasticPollution

The BBC have uncovered more shocking #DirtyMoney abuses by the water industry. Watch Panorama tonight for the full expose 👀 These dirty tricks are exactly why we need the government to act to remove profit from pollution from the statute book. Right now, they are trying to pass the Water (Special Measures) Bill. This flawed Bill needs urgent amendment - which is where you come in... Sign our #BanTheBailouts petition today, and make sure government feels the weight of public pressure and amends the Bill, before it's too late - https://lnkd.in/eYS68tVA #EndSewagePollution

⏳ Whose side are you on? We’ve got just 24 HOURS LEFT to double every donation. On one side: 🚨 Water companies knowingly dump sewage, hide data, and prioritise profits. On the other: 🌊 YOU. Our amazing community of water lovers and activists fighting for clean water, thriving wildlife, and a better future. 📢 This is our final call. Donate now to power a WAVE OF ACTION against powerful polluters who refuse to play fair. Every single pound will be DOUBLED—but only for the next 24 hours! Let’s show the polluters we’re NOT backing down. Make your impact count: https://lnkd.in/eRWjH9Fy #EndSewagePollution #OceanActivists #ChristmasChallenge