Happy World Rivers Day!

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Where is your favourite river spot? Maybe you dip, paddleboard, kayak, fish or walk. We're guessing a place springs to mind. After all, we're a nation of over 200,000km of streams, rivers and estuaries winding across the UK.

They prevent our homes from flooding and provide the water we drink. And they're critical ecosystems that support everything from water voles to kingfishers to the tiniest invertebrates.

In short, they're our lifeblood.

Only 14% of UK rivers are ecologically healthy. And not one river meets good chemical status.

Sewage. Agricultural runoff. Chemicals and pharmaceuticals. Pollution on an industrial scale. Nearly all of it unmonitored. Flowing directly into the sea.

Across the UK, ocean activists like you are taking matters into their own hands.

They're campaigning to get their favourite river spots designated as official bathing waters [[link removed]]. These are spaces where water quality is regularly tested – and legal obligations are put on polluters to clean up their act.

Here's why Didi in Lostwithiel is campaigning for the River Fowey...

“The community love this river. For me personally, my toddler swims in it nearly every day in summer.

"I just want to make sure he’s swimming in nice, clean, healthy water."

“Getting this stretch of the river designated would mean so much to us. We’re already testing, but having it formally tested, and with in-depth testing, would give us the reassurance that we’re swimming in clean water."

"It gives us a leg to stand on if there are pollution issues. We can escalate that and hold polluters accountable.”

Join us at the People's History Museum [[link removed]] [[link removed]]in Manchester on Saturday 16th November 2024, for a day of community-led bathing water workshops and talks.

Whether you're thinking about starting a bathing water campaign or already have one going, you'll find everything you need to know.

Only 20 tickets remaining, so book yours below. Or if you have questions, get in touch with the bathing water team at [[email protected]]

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SURFERS AGAINST SEWAGE

Registered Charity in England & Wales No. 1145877

Surfers Against Sewage

Wheal Kitty Workshops, St Agnes, Cornwall, TR5 0RD

Tel: 01872 555 940

Surfers Against Sewage is a national marine conservation and campaigning charity that inspires, unites and empowers communities to take action to protect oceans, beaches, waves and wildlife.

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