New data from charity Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) has revealed the extent of public distrust in Thames Water amid ongoing outrage at the levels of pollution occurring in London waterways.

The UK Government and regulators have also come under fire, with two thirds (65%) of Londoners saying the UK Government
should be doing more to tackle sewage pollution. An even bigger proportion (79%) think
water company regulators need to do more to make sure water companies reduce sewage pollution.

As England goes to the polls in the local elections today, the survey data reveals the issues that are most likely to inform the public’s vote. Over a quarter
(27%) of respondents in London report that environmental issues will be their most important factor for voting. Among these people, two thirds (65%) said they cared about water pollution
the most.

SAS are seeking to convert public outrage into action by staging a mass paddle-out protest against sewage pollution, featuring simultaneous events at beaches and rivers across the UK on
Saturday 20 May.

Josh Harris, Head of Communications at Surfers Against Sewage, said:
“Last year water companies paid out a combined £1 billion to their shareholders while dumping sewage into UK waterways almost 400,000 times. It’s time to put an end to this shameless profiteering. Water companies should not be allowed to profit from pollution,
and our data shows that the public agree, with a huge majority calling for an end to industry fat cats pocketing bonuses whilst failing to meet minimum environmental standards.

“And it’s not just the water companies that need to clean up their act. The Government and regulators should be enforcing high standards and holding water companies to account, but it’s
clear to the public that they’re not doing enough. We’ve suffered decades of broken sewers because of our broken system, and now the public have had enough and are demanding an to end this sewage scandal.”

The data also reveals the importance of river and sea spots for Brits’ physical and mental health. Seven in 10 (72%) of Londoners
say access to blue space is beneficial for their physical health, whilst over half (56%) go so far as to say that having limited access to blue space is detrimental for their mental health.
Despite this, 71% say sewage pollution puts them off going in the sea and rivers in the UK.

Josh Harris, Head of Communications at Surfers Against Sewage, continued: “We’re urging anyone
who feels passionately about protecting our blue spaces to join us on 20 May as we rise up against the polluters and stage a mass paddle-out protest across the UK. Water companies are wreaking havoc on our precious rivers and seas, and we refuse to stay silent.
Head to your nearest protest and make your voice heard.”

At least 12 protests will take place across the UK on 20 May, at key locations covering each water company catchment. Swimmers, paddlers, surfers, canoers, kayakers, paddle-boarders, windsurfers
and anyone who cares about the health of their local blue spaces will take to the water, beach or riverbank to make their demands heard. SAS are also urging the public to sign their
‘Dirty
Money’ petition, which demands an end to water companies profiting from pollution.

To mark the protests, SAS have worked with Niall Jones – a Cornwall-based product designer and owner of Benthos Surf – and creative agency Mr President to develop a surfboard to represent the extent
of sewage pollution in UK seas and rivers. Jones collected
raw sewage from the sea and turned it into resin that soaked into the board, creating unexpected patterns. To maximise the impact of the design, he included two transparent windows in
the top of the board that display the two litres of sewage water contained within. Mr President have created a video highlighting the extent of the sewage scandal in the UK, and featuring interviews with and footage of Ben Skinner, 11x European Longboard Champion,
and other surfers riding the waves on the Floater.

Just last week Labour’s Water Quality Bill – which would introduce automatic fines on water companies who dumped sewage, and set a legal target to reduce sewage discharges by 90% by 2030 – failed to
win support in the House of Commons.

SAS’s new data comes just weeks after data from water companies and the Environment Agency revealed that sewage was dumped into rivers and seas in England, Scotland and Wales just under
400,000 times last year, despite 2022 being one of the driest years in decades. Last year SAS found evidence of 143 ‘dry spills’ – sewage overflows that occurred when there had been no rain for two days – indicating potentially illegal activity by water companies.
The charity is calling for an end to sewage discharges into UK bathing waters and a 90% reduction in sewage discharges by 2030.