Thousands are highlighted for paddle protests over “sewage scandal”

Thousands of people expressed their anger about spilling in British waters in dozens of “Paddle” protests across the country.

On more than 40 beaches, rivers and lakes throughout the UK, the people armed with boards and posters lead into the water to demand an urgent reform of the water industry at events organized by the surfers of the campaign group against waste water.

It happens that new opinion queries pointed out that less than one in five people believe that they will swim safely at their bathing place by 2030 without risking their health as a result of wastewater pollution.

The survey of 2,000 people showed that only 21 percent of the government's respondents trusted to ensure that water suppliers reduce wastewater pollution, and more than half a million discharges into our seas, lakes and rivers in 2024.

Data published by the environmental agency in March showed that water companies published a record use in England's rivers and seas last year. The Independent Water Commission is currently examining its evidence before the government releases recommendations to reform the water industry.

Stuart Davies, an organizer of the Brighton Protest, said: “We paddle because we seem to be in the same place every year. We see record levels of wastewater pollution in our blue rooms, especially here on the south coast.

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“I was personally affected. I can't go to the sea. I can't surf. I also volunteer for the wave project that young people offer surfing therapy. It was canceled a few times and we couldn't go into the water. It makes me extremely angry.

“We paddle in protest against the scandal and demand the full reform of the water industry.”

The independent Surfers recently donated £ 20,000 against waste water to support the group's work, as new figures showed that the number of beauty points for swimming had doubled due to waste water in one year.

Of England's 451 protected bathing spots, 37 are now classified as poor – the lowest category – because they contain uncertain mirrors of potentially deadly bacteria due to wastewater pollution, including E coli and intestinal enterococcal.