Surfers Against Sewage’s latest investigation, the results of which were revealed this month, has uncovered something deeply alarming: In 2025, water companies discharged sewage illegally across England - on dry days - for more than 204,000 hours. In case you’re not already aware, when discharges happen without rainfall, the sewage is less diluted and is thus potentially more harmful to people in the water – and, using sickness reports submitted through SAS’s Safer Seas & Rivers Service App, SAS identified 20 cases in 2025 where people reported illness linked to a confirmed dry-day sewage discharge. These reports included children, along with one swimmer who had to take eight days off work due to sickness. 

  

Naturally these figures only take into account experiences of those who were aware of the App and who’d opted to use it to make a sickness report. That I’ve been following SAS since the mid-90s and hadn’t been aware of the App myself, makes me feel that these figures are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the harm done to people’s health thanks to these thousands of hours of dry spillages. 

  

Working with journalists at The Times and analysing data obtained through a Freedom of Information request to the Environment Agency, the investigation found that 142 bathing waters experienced 8,477 hours of illegal dry spills last year - the first year water companies were required to submit specific dry spill data to the regulator, giving the clearest picture yet of how often sewage is being discharged illegally in dry weather. The investigation revealed that 105 bathing waters experienced 7,885 hours of illegal dry spills, and that 79% of those locations are actually classified as ‘good’ or ‘excellent’ bathing waters! 

  

It's just not good enough, is it? 

  

Discussing the findings, Surfers Against Sewage CEO Giles Bristow said: “Water companies’ brazen disregard for the law is creating a public health emergency right under our noses. This isn’t the delivery of a vital public utility – it’s corporate criminality that is poisoning surfers, swimmers and children who just want to dip in the sea. When will the Government wake up and realise these profit-crazed companies are not fit for purpose?” 

  

The report makes horrifying reading – but there’s more. As well as featuring all the data, useful maps etc., it includes links that will enable you to download the SAS Sewage Alert App to get real-time pollution alerts for your favourite beaches, rivers and lakes and see where sewage discharges are happening across the UK, right now. There’s also a link to a Petition that I’d urge you to sign, so please find out more and get involved.