Latest news with #SurfersAgainstSewage
Daily Record
3 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Team GB Olympic swimmer to take on Loch Lomond as part of ‘3 Lake Challenge' in 'monumental feat'
Olympian Hector Pardoe will swim the length of Loch Lomond, Lake Windermere and Lake Bala in just 24-hours to raise funds and awareness against pollution in the UK's natural waters. A Team GB swimmer is set to embark upon an incredible '3 Lake Challenge' – where he'll swim the entire length of three bodies of water, including Loch Lomond, to raise awareness for a charity aiming to protect the UK's natural waters. Olympian Hector Pardoe, 24, will take on the 24-hour mission to swim the full length of Loch Lomond, Windermere and Lake Bala, all to highlight the work of Surfers Against Sewage and the need to protect the UK's natural waters. Cameron House, on the banks of the iconic loch, will welcome Hector and his support team when the challenge begins on Friday, August 1. The epic swim, which kicks off at midnight on Friday, will see him set off from Ardlui as Hector covers over 50km of open water in just one day, raising vital awareness for charity. Ahead of the lung-bursting challenge, Hector said: 'Loch Lomond is vast, remote and dark. It will be the most challenging part of the swim. But it's also the most beautiful, a reminder of exactly why we need to protect these wild places.' Hector is a two-time Olympian in Marathon Open Water Swimming, having won Britain's first World Medal in 13 years and finishing sixth in Paris last summer. He's aiming to raise £15,000 from the 24-hour effort and has set up an online donations page. On the page, Hector said: 'No one has ever completed this challenge successfully. This monumental feat will see me cover 34.5 miles of swimming, putting my limits to the ultimate test. 'This is almost twice the length of the English Channel. I'll be in the water for a minimum of 13 hours, battling conditions from the 14–15 degree waters of Loch Lomond in the pitch black where visibility will be zero, to the harsh, challenging winds of Lake Bala. Inspired by the traditional Three Peaks Mountain challenge, I wanted to create something just as iconic – but in the water.' On his chosen charity, he added: 'Across the UK, our rivers and lakes are being polluted by sewage and agricultural runoff, making them unsafe – not just for athletes like me, but for anyone who wants to enjoy them. 'It's more than an environmental issue; it's about health, access, opportunity, and national pride. In 2024, UK water companies paid out £1.2 billion to shareholders – while discharging raw sewage into our rivers and seas 592,478 times. The system is fundamentally broken. 'That's why I'm supporting a campaign to drive real change in how our water system is regulated and managed. We now face the biggest opportunity for reform in over three decades. A major government-led review into the water sector is underway – the most significant since privatisation. Crucially, sewage pollution has risen to the top of the national agenda, and there are now 81 active criminal investigations into water companies in England – the largest crackdown of its kind in history. 'I've grown up in open water. It's given me opportunities I could never have imagined – from swimming in my local mere as a kid to representing Great Britain on the World stage. But the waters that shaped me are now under threat.' Will Oakley, Managing Director of Cameron House Resort, said: 'We're thrilled to host Hector and his family at Cameron House, and to play a part in his remarkable journey. Loch Lomond is one of the most iconic stretches of water in the UK, and we're proud to see it take centre stage for such an important cause.' Loch Lomond will represent the largest stint of the challenge – measuring in at a 21-mile swim. The Lake Windermere leg measures 10.5-miles and he will complete the effort with a three-mile swim the length of Lake Bella. To donate to Hector's effort, click here.
Cambrian News
7 days ago
- Politics
- Cambrian News
Tywyn beach clean-up to become regular event
The clean-up coincided with the Surfers Against Sewage 'People Versus Plastic' National Day of Action, calling on the government to act decisively to tackle plastic pollution at its source and to position the UK as a global leader in the fight against single-use plastics.
BBC News
22-07-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Devon swimmers call for real-time testing of bathing waters
Swimmers and clean water campaigners are calling for "real-time" testing to show immediate pollution levels at designated bathing water sites. Currently tests are carried out at beaches and rivers by the Environment Agency (EA) and it can take several days for the results to be Daysh, of the St Agnes Water Users Group in Cornwall, said: "You could potentially be swimming around in sewage, so real-time testing would really help."The EA said the current system of regular testing during the bathing water season was "consistent and scientific" and designed to "build a detailed, accurate long-term profile of a site". 'Eye infections' On Monday a long-awaited review into England and Wales' troubled water sector was released, with Sir Jon Cunliffe's Water Commission recommending the scrapping of water regulator Sunday the environment secretary Steve Reed pledged the number of times sewage is discharged by water companies will be halved by 2030. Ms Daysh, who swims in the sea all year round, said: "I've had eye infections and stomach upsets because of pollution."Instant testing would make things much simpler and much safer." The calls for real-time testing are also being supported by the campaign group Surfers Against Sewage (SAS).Its Safer Seas Service mobile app provides information on when water quality could have been impacted by sewage spills, but without specific detail on pollution levels, in a similar way to South West Water's WaterFit Live. "People get sick using our waters and it's not good enough," Kirsty Davies, from SAS said."The legislation currently is not in a good state. "People deserve to enter the water knowing what they are swimming, surfing or paddling in." At the moment, designated bathing waters are sampled regularly by the Environment Agency (EA) between 1 May and 30 September. Samples are taken by hand and sent to a lab to be tested for two types of bacteria, ecoli and intestinal enterococci. It can take several days for the results to be posted on the EA's Swimfo website. A growing number of community groups are also carrying out their own tests at sites popular with swimmers and other water users, including on the River Teign in Devon. "People are worried about sewage in the river," Stuart Reynolds, from the Friends of the River Teign (FORT) group, said. The group has been using a real-time device that can indicate levels of pollution. "Most of the time the river is clean, but people need to know when it's not. We're looking at ways that will hopefully provide us with that information, where people could pick up on their phone, straight away," he added. The group hopes the test results will lead to measures being taken to improve water quality in the river, which can be impacted by factors including agricultural run-off. Carolyn Sargentson, from FORT, said: "This is more complicated than it seems. It's not just sewage spills, although that is a huge problem."There are a lot of diverse and complex reasons why the water isn't always good enough to swim. "We feel that if we get our voices heard we might be able to do something good for the water and the people who use it." The calls come as scientists at the University of Plymouth have developed an autonomous water quality testing system on a buoy that could be placed in rivers or the sea to take and analyse water samples "as frequently as every 15 minutes". Dr Kieron Fraser, associate professor in marine conservation at the University of Plymouth, said: "We are developing this kit as there is a demand for a more accurate testing of our bathing waters."The project, a collaboration between the University of Plymouth and the university's spinout company Molendotech Ltd, is funded by a £330,000 grant from Innovate year, Wessex Water installed real-time monitors at swimming spots as part of a trial, backed by funding from the water regulator Ofwat. South West Water (SWW) said it was "absolutely committed to improving water quality".The company added: "97.5% of bathing waters across our region passed Defra's strict standards in 2024 – with more than 96% rated 'Good' or 'Excellent'." It also said it had reduced storm overflow spills at 15 out of 20 of the highest spilling sites across Cornwall and Devon over the last 11 months."We're delivering one of the biggest environmental investment programmes in the country – with £850 million being invested between 2020 and 2025, and a further £2.8 billion proposed from 2025 to 2030 to accelerate environmental improvements."The water regulator Ofwat has proposed £24m enforcement action against SWW over 'systemic' failures in the way the company managed its network. 'Long-term patterns' The EA said its testing system was not designed to "say what the water quality at bathing waters is on any given day"."Its job is to build a detailed, accurate long-term profile of a site to inform the public's decision of where to visit," it "consistent and scientific" sampling process system provided an overall classification for each location "based on long-term patterns", a spokesperson EA said it "welcomed the role citizen science monitoring can play" and was working with Defra to understand how new measures, such as removing the fixed monitoring season which runs from May to end of September, would be delivered and funded. A Defra spokesperson said bathing water cleanliness was "paramount" and it was "updating outdated bathing water regulations, including removing fixed bathing season dates, so that more people have the opportunity to experience the benefits of our beautiful waters".
Telegraph
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Mapped: The summer holiday beaches flooded with sewage
One of Britain's best beaches is among dozens blighted by sewage spills as school summer holidays begin. Swimmers are being urged to think carefully before entering the water at Gorleston-on-Sea in Great Yarmouth after heavy rain over the weekend set off storm overflows. The beach, named the 23rd best in Europe by TripAdvisor in 2025, is among 139 coastal locations around the country where sewage has been released over the past two days. Others include popular seaside resorts in Cornwall, Sussex and the North East. Labour has sought to prove it still maintains a grip on water companies after a scathing independent report by Sir Jon Cunliffe, a senior civil servant. Sir Jon said water bills were set to rise by 30 per cent in the next five years and compared the water crisis to the 'Great Stink' of 1888, in which untreated human waste and industrial effluent produced putrid smells and rampant disease. 'I have more than once thought of the Great Stink when leading the Independent Water Commission on water over the last nine months,' Sir Jon said in a speech in London, adding: 'In recent years, some companies have manifestly acted in their private interest but against the public interest and that must be prevented in future.' Responding to the review, the Environment Secretary announced the Government would scrap Ofwat, the water regulation authority, as part of the 'biggest overhaul of water regulation in a generation'. But Surfers Against Sewage (SAS), a marine conservation charity, dismissed the move as 'toothless tinkering' and demanded the Government commit to tangible reform. It said: 'Voters are tired of swimming in sewage and drowning in ever-rising bills.'
BBC News
21-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Devon and Cornwall campaigners' mixed response to water overhaul
Environmental campaigners and industry stakeholders have given mixed responses to the government's announcement that water regulator Ofwat will be scrapped and Secretary Steve Reed said the overhaul, which follows an independent review, would "prevent the abuses of the past" and bring together fragmented oversight into a more accountable Pearson from water cleanliness advocates Friends of the Dart cautiously welcomed the move, calling the proposed ombudsman "a powerful tool for change."Campaign group, Cornwall-based Surfers Against Sewage (SAS), condemned the report as insufficient and cosmetic, claiming it was "putting lipstick on a pig". New water ombudsman will tackle leaks and overchargingFive key takeaways from the landmark water sector reviewWill the water industry proposals make any difference?Water bills will 'never again' jump as high, claims minister The Water Commission review, led by former Bank of England deputy governor Sir Jon Cunliffe, was set up in response to growing public concern about sewage spills and rising Pearson said: "We often hear people complaining that South West Water are effectively marking their own homework at the moment."She believes sustained investment and government-backed enforcement and needed for significant improvements to river health."What we need to see is not just identifying the problems, but consistent action towards resolving them," she said. "We need the right thing to be done, and we need it to be done methodically and with a long-term view." 'Taken for fools' Giles Bristow, chief executive of SAS, said the review "utterly fails to prioritise public benefit over private profit". "Only one path forward remains: a full, systemic transformation that ends the ruthless pursuit of profit and puts the public good at the heart of our water services," he the group welcomed the call for a national strategy, Mr Bristow dismissed the regulator overhaul as said: "We won't be taken for fools. Abolishing Ofwat and replacing it with a shinier regulator won't stop sewage dumping or profiteering if the finance and ownership structures stay the same." South West Water said it welcomed the report "and its focus on shaping a stronger water sector for the future"."The proposals outlined today reflect the importance of long-term strategic planning, local accountability, and better environmental and public health outcomes," it said."We are particularly supportive of efforts to update regulation, strengthen asset health, and introduce clearer national direction through a long-term water strategy." Analysis from BBC South West environment correspondent Kirk England "From sea swimmers to clean water campaigners, many will be hoping that Sir Jon Cunliffe's review will lead to change, particularly on tackling sewage spills."About a third of England's designated bathing waters are here in the South West."In 2024, although the overall number of spills by South West Water dropped slightly, to 56,000, the duration of those spills rose to 544,000 hours, up from 531,000 in 2023."South West Water has welcomed the publication of the Independent Water Commission's final report and has already said it is investing to tackle sewage discharges."But there are fears the proposed measures don't go far enough and will not lead to what so many people have told me they want to see - a significant and sustained reduction in sewage discharges into rivers and the sea."
