Giles Bristow, CEO of SAS, criticized the water industry for its failure to address sewage pollution and called for a shift to local management of water resources.

Among the alarming cases, Suzi Finlayson, a 42-year-old mother from Bognor Regis, became critically ill after swimming in contaminated water, requiring open-heart surgery due to a life-threatening infection.

The organization is calling for accountability and transparency from water companies, urging the end of financial rewards for law violations and advocating for a reform of the current system.

Despite private water companies paying out £1.2 billion to shareholders, sewage was discharged into British waterways 592,478 times in 2024, totaling 4.7 million hours.

SAS noted that sickness reports likely underrepresent the actual number of cases due to limitations in data collection through the Safer Seas and River Service app.

In 2024, the campaign group Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) reported 1,853 cases of illness linked to sewage pollution, with 331 individuals seeking medical attention and 79% of these illnesses attributed to sewage contamination.

Similarly, Charlie Clarke fell ill after swimming at Clevedon Marine Lake, experiencing symptoms that affected his heart and blood pressure.

The water industry failed to meet pollution reduction targets, recording 2,489 spills in 2024—more than double the Environment Agency's target.

Water UK acknowledged the industry's issues, stating that no sewage spill is acceptable and highlighted a £12 billion investment aimed at reducing spills by 2030.

As part of these ongoing challenges, water bills in England and Wales are set to rise by up to 47%, with customers facing an additional £160 charge by 2030.

Finlayson emphasized the lack of trust in the water industry regarding public health and environmental safety, particularly after her experience with a 343-hour sewage overflow.

A recent survey revealed that 27% of English residents considered not paying their water bill due to supplier actions, with only a third confident in their suppliers' commitment to resolving sewage issues.