After a BBC investigation, released on Tuesday, found that three water companies had illegally pumped sewage into waterways 388 times last year, British Rowing has confirmed that they have received an increased number of reports of illnesses among rowers.
Thames, Wessex, and Southern Water were found to have carried out ‘dry spilling’, with sewage released during days with no rainfall, potentially creating high concentrations of sewage in the waterways.
At 68 sites, sewage was illegally discharged, including into the River Chew in north Somerset, River Lavant in Chichester, and Mayes Brook. The other water companies in England were unable to respond to the BBC due to being under criminal investigation by the Environment Agency.
The news coincides with an increasing number of reports – both on social media and through official reporting channels – of people becoming ill after swimming, rowing, and canoeing in waterways.
This is by no means the first incident of sewage being released into rivers. A report by The Rivers Trust found that not a single English river met chemical standards in 2023 and just 14% were in good ecological health.
Earlier this year, Henley Royal Regatta organisers called for urgent action on sewage pollution after two local campaign groups – River Action and Henley Locals – found dangerous bacteria in the river. E coli and intestinal enterocci were at levels equivalent to an official bathing water status of ‘poor’.
Likewise, the Northwich Guardian reported in July that rowers on the River Weaver had to row though a 100-metre patch of suspected raw sewage.
So what’s being done?
While there are examples of government action against water companies who discharge raw sewage into waterways – Thames Water was fined £3.3 million in July, for example – there has been much criticism of the seeming immunity of water companies.
In July, the government confirmed that the cap on the size of monetary penalties imposed on water companies would be lifted, offering regulators a quicker way of enforcing laws compared to criminal prosecutions. But in 2021, Tory MPs shut down a proposal to place legal duties on companies to reduce sewage discharges.
Instead, it is local groups leading the fight against water pollution. The Friends of the Dart are campaigning to apply for ‘bathing water status’ at four points along the River Dart, which would require a massive reduction in the number of sewage outlet spills each year. The river is also used by many rowers.
What’s the advice to rowers?
The latest reports will raise concerns among many rowers. British Rowing guidance continues to stress the importance of washing hands thoroughly, hosing down equipment, and wearing suitable footwear when launching or recovering boats.
A representative for British Rowing said:
We are deeply concerned by the recent news of large amounts of sewage spills conducted illegally last year. British Rowing believes that it is vital that we do all we can to ensure that people are able to be in or out on the water as safely as possible.
We have been made aware of a potentially increasing number of rower illness issues on the river which has been suggested are likely due to recent sewage releases in the water, although we are not aware that a root cause for these outbreaks has been formally identified to date. As such it is incumbent on us all to ensure that our rivers and waterways are as free from pollution and waste as they can be.
We request that all members of our rowing community report any concerns over pollution to The Environment Agency’s Incident Hotline: https://theriverstrust.org/key-issues/sewage-in-rivers/how-to-report-pollution-incidents-in-a-river
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