A big week for water
The Clean Water Sports Alliance (CWSA) has reacted to figures published by the Environment Agency, revealing that storm overflows discharged into the nation’s waterways for a total of 3,614,428 hours in the last year.
Whilst there was a small drop in the total number of sewage spills in 2024 – from 464,056 to 450,398, the amount of time sewage was being discharged actually increased.
Phil Horton, RYA Environmental and Sustainability Manager, said on behalf of the CWSA: “The latest figures from the Environment Agency reveal the shocking and unacceptable scale of sewage pollution in our waterways. The frequency and duration of spills from storm overflows underscores the urgent need for action to protect the rivers, lakes, and coastal waters that millions of people rely on for sport, recreation, and well-being.
“We have seen the popularity of our sports grow massively in recent years, with millions taking part each year and enjoying the physical and mental health
benefits that come with being active in, on or around the water. Concerns around water quality risks scaring people away from the water at a time when we should be helping more people to be active.
“While we welcome recent measures such as the Water Special Measures Act, today’s figures make it clear that far more must be done. The Water Commission must deliver meaningful reforms to the sector to ensure it meets the standards the public rightfully expects when it comes to water quality and sewage pollution. Decades of underinvestment and mismanagement cannot continue—our waters must be safeguarded for both people and nature.
“The Clean Water Sports Alliance stands with our communities, campaigners and all those who depend on clean water. We will continue to push for urgent, lasting change to end the scandal of sewage pollution in the UK’s waterways.”
Have your say on water sector
An independent Water Commission is inviting boaters and the public for their views on how to fix our broken water sector. The commission will explore how the structure, governance and regulation of the water sector could be reformed to better balance the many competing demands placed on our water resources and deliver value for money to the public.
The CWSA have met with the Commission this week to call for government regulators to do more to protect public health and for recreational bodies to have more of a say in future decision making.
The Commission is taking evidence from a wide range of stakeholders and will publish recommendations for a reformed water sector in June.
Have your say before the consultation closes on 23 April 2025.
NGBs unite to tackle polluted water in Northern Ireland
Seven of Northern Ireland’s water-based National Governing Bodies have come together to tackle the growing issue of polluted water in Northern Ireland.
The Alliance in NI is initially made up of representatives from; Swim Ulster, Paddle NI, Rowing Ireland NI Branch, the Royal Yachting Association Northern Ireland, the Ulster Angling Federation, National Coarse Fishing Federation Ireland (NCFFI), Triathlon Ireland and is supported by the NI Sports Forum.
Representatives came together at Stormont (2 April 2025) to lobby for the three ‘asks’ of the campaign.
These are:
1. A long-term funding commitment put in place to improve water quality and regulation
2. Investment into real-time water quality monitoring equipment
3. Advocating a change from ‘bathing waters’ to ‘recreation waters’ within government policy to recognise the wide range of activities that depend on clean water
Highlighting impacts on training, current Irish sailing champion, Dan McGaughey, said: “When I’m not out on the water, I’m losing days training and I’m losing experience against everyone else. I only have a set period of time to do blocks of training, so being forced to take days off because of poor water quality has a large impact.
“It’s really important that we have a water quality monitoring system in Northern Ireland. If I’m there every day and I’m unaware of the quality of the water, then how is someone who wants to enjoy their hobby meant to tell if the water is a risk to them?”
On top of the ambitions of the Clean Water Sports Alliance NI helping those who use waterways directly, their actions will also help the wider population in Northern Ireland.
The 2019 Sport NI report, ‘Assessing The Economic Impact Of Outdoor Recreation In Northern Ireland’, highlighted the economic impact of the Outdoor Recreation Sector with GVA representing at least £132M to the local economy. The report also revealed that the sector created over 4,800 full-time job roles.
Show your support
The Clean Water Sports Alliance NI is a major step forward in the ongoing movement to protect Northern Ireland’s waterways, but success on this crucial issue will require the comprehensive backing of government, as well as public support.
You can support the Clean Water Sports Alliance NI by getting in touch with your local MLA and sharing our message. Find out more