Surfers Against Sewage (ocean heroes from Cornwall)
Surfers Against Sewage is a charity that was founded in Cornwall, by concerned surfers over local sewage issues. Today it’s a major charity that campaigns politically against illegal discharge of raw sewage. You can report water pollution to them.
This is a wonderful organisation that has now gone beyond surfing issues. It organises volunteer beach cleans, and was instrumental in bringing about the ban on single-use plastic cotton buds.
Rainwater in theory should dilute sewage, but with a population of 60 million people, it’s no longer possible to rely on a downpour to treat it for us.
You can report sewage pollution. Signs are:
- Distressed animals (call local wildlife rescue) or dead animals or fish (gasping for air)
- ‘Toilet waste’ (bathroom tissue and things that should not be flushed but are: wet wipes, condoms, sanitary towels/tampons)
- Bad odours and brown water. Treated water is grey or black. Surfers Against Sewage writes that ‘if the water’s brown and smells like shit – it probably is’.
What Causes Sewage Pollution?
The main cause is Sewer Overflows (it’s legal for water companies to discharge untreated wastewater during heavy rain periods, but this is now happening more on a routine basis, using an old system that can’t cope). Major investment is needed, but instead the big water companies are giving out billions in dividends instead.
Many people get ill from swimming in our seas and rivers. You can submit a sickness report to help their monitoring and campaigning. Risks include gastroenteritis, hepatitis and E.coli (bodyguards and wild swimmers are three times more likely, to carry this antibiotic-resistant bacteria in their guts).
Campaigns Against Plastic Pollution
Nearly all the ocean’s plastic has now sunk to the seafloor, so the only way to clean up our seas, is to stop using plastic in the first place (and this includes using tools like microfibre filters to catch microplastics in washing machines, and choosing a mostly zero waste lifestyle (reusable over disposable etc).
Already the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (a whirlpool of ocean currents that collects plastic debris) is twice the size of France, with oceanographer Charles Moore predicting it will double in size soon, if lifestyles don’t change.
There are many campaigns now across England, to have local water boards divert profits from shareholders to upgraded sewage treatment.
Download the Surfers against Sewage app to report sickness or pollution, to help them take action against water companies that don’t clean up their mess.
In 2023, Anglian Water was fined £2.65 million for letting untreated sewage overflow into the North Sea due to decommissioning equipment, and failed to act on data due to no alarm system (this is the largest ever environmental fine).
