Climate Thoughts with Brian

Pictures of Scarborough Surfers Against Sewage Protest credit @torysmasher

In over 50 locations across the country, people gathered today to express their outrage at the ongoing sewage pollution of waterways, rivers and the coastline around the UK.

Organised by Surfers Against Sewage, these ‘Paddle Out Protests’ aim to protest against the sewage pollution by the water monopolies as well as the Government’s failure to tackle it. The announcement this week of the Clean Water Bill, is felt by many campaigners to lock in the current failed privatised system.

Giles Bristow, Surfers Against Sewage Chief Executive said: “The Clean Water Bill is nothing more than a whitewash, locking in a failed system that has seen pollution, shareholder profits and consumer bills soar over three decades. That is why thousands of us are paddling out in protest.

“Public support for privatised water has all but vanished and while thousands take to the beaches in protest the Government is burying its head in the sand. Sir Keir should have learned the lesson from Mr Bates vs the Post Office: the public have caught the stink and demand action on the sewage scandal. If he and his government continue to prop up this dirty business, they must be prepared to face the consequences.

“Whether you’re a surfer, swimmer, cold-dipper or water-bill payer, this is our chance to stand up to the polluters, paddle out, and demand that the Government’s reforms bring an end to sewage pollution. Turn up, paddle out and join the fight.”

Mandate for Change

New polling coinciding with the protests reveals the scale of public dissatisfaction. Just 17% of adults in England believe ministers are holding water companies to account, and just 15% believe the Government is willing to challenge the interests of water company shareholders. The actions of water companies have even led 1 in 4 (26% of adults in England) to consider not paying their water bill.

The mandate for change is overwhelming. Just 7% of the public believe water companies should remain privately owned and able to make a profit for shareholders, while 77% back a change in operating model, including more than a third (35%) supporting full public ownership.

Sewage dumped over 290,000 times in 2025

Privatised water companies dumped sewage over 290,000 times in 2025 – the equivalent of nearly 800 spills a day. Water companies were also responsible for 14,700 sewage discharges on dry days, incidents that are often illegal because they’re unrelated to storm overflow events. SAS data shows that this trend has worsened in 2026. Sewage has been dumped into bathing waters across the UK for over 89,000 hours so far this year with England’s water companies responsible for more than 69,000 hours of spills.

Pictures of Scarborough Surfers Against Sewage Protest credit @torysmasher

In Yorkshire, York was one of the few places chosen for the ‘Paddle Out Protest’. Robin Norton, Millennium Bridge, York Protest Lead said, “I’m one of around a thousand rowers, kayakers and paddle boarders in York that regularly enjoy the River Ouse. We often get splashed and sometimes fall in. Many of us are very aware of the water quality and I feel that if anyone is going to stand up for what is going into York’s rivers and their tributaries, it can start with water sports.’

He continued, ‘Beyond us: kids paddle in the river, dogs swim in it, anglers pull fish out of it and wild swimmers brave, immersing themselves in it. Our rivers should be clean. Let’s end sewage pollution.’

Since 2019, Surfers Against Sewage has received over 7,600 reports from people who have fallen ill after using the water, including extreme cases resulting in hospitalisation and ongoing health problems.

Time to end the ‘dirty business’

Among those joining the protests are Julie Maughan, whose daughter Heather Preen tragically died from E. coli after visiting a Devon beach in 1999, and actors from the docu-drama ‘Dirty Business’, which told their stories and has drawn comparisons with Mr Bates vs the Post Office.

Julie Maughan, mother to Heather Preen, who died after contracting E. coli from a Devon beach, was one of the protesters in Falmouth today. She said:

 ‘I lost my daughter Heather to dirty water, and I will not stop fighting until no other family has to go through what mine has. This government has had every opportunity to fix the broken water system and chosen not to. People are getting seriously ill and families are afraid to get in the water. That’s why I’ll be paddling out alongside thousands of people across the UK standing up for their right to swim without getting sick.’

Following the nationwide Paddle Out Protests, SAS is urging the public to sign the ‘People Before Payouts’ petition calling on the UK Government to end the current privatised water industry. In Scotland and Wales, the charity is encouraging people to push their newly elected MSPs and MSs for better-funded regulation, increased water quality transparency, monitoring and testing in Scotland and Wales.