Water-based sports unite to call for urgent action on river pollution: Clean Water Alliance launched

Water-based sports organizations in the UK are coming together to demand urgent action from the government to address pollution in rivers, lakes, and coastal waters. The newly formed Clean Water Alliance, consisting of The Angling Trust, British Rowing, British Triathlon, GB Outrigger, Paddle UK, Royal Yachting Association, and Swim England, aims to achieve healthy and nature-rich blue spaces across the UK for everyone to enjoy.

The call for action comes after high levels of E. coli were found in the River Thames where the prestigious Boat Race took place earlier this year. Concern over water quality and pollution has been on the rise, with University of Oxford rowers criticizing sewage levels in the Thames after losing to Cambridge in March.

Dame Katherine Grainger, head of UK Sport, emphasized the need for water companies to be held accountable for pollution. The Alliance is pushing for regulators to be adequately funded to monitor and investigate polluters, as well as for access to real-time water quality information year-round.

British Triathlon chief executive Ruth Daniels stated that the alliance wants to make their collective voice heard and see real change in promoting and protecting clean open water in the UK. British Rowing chief executive Alastair Marks echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of cleaning, protecting, and preserving the blue spaces on which their sports rely.

While Water UK acknowledges the improvements in bathing water quality over the years, they recognize that sewage spill levels remain unacceptable. Water companies in England have proposed £10 billion to reduce spills by nearly 40% by 2030.

The Clean Water Alliance’s efforts highlight the importance of preserving our waterways for the enjoyment and safety of all water-based sports enthusiasts in the UK.