Elite athletes to swim length of River Thames demanding action on sewage crisis
From 1–4 September, eight world-class and Olympic swimmers, representing all four UK nations, will take on The Thames Swim Against Sewage, a non-stop, three-day relay from the source of the River Thames, finishing at Westminster, in an action coordinated by campaigning charity Surfers Against Sewage (SAS). Covering more than 200km, the endurance swim will be both a fastest known time attempt and a powerful call for urgent Government action to end the UK’s sewage crisis.
The swimmers will set off on Monday 1 September from Lechlade, Gloucestershire with the relay ending at Teddington Lock (the end of the non-tidal Thames) on Thursday morning. Along the route, they will be joined by clean water campaigners from river communities who are supporting the challenge and amplifying calls for urgent change. From Teddington, swimmers and communities will travel by boat and kayak to Westminster, arriving on Thursday 4 September to deliver a symbolic call for urgent action to protect the UK’s rivers, lakes, and seas, as parliament returns from summer recess.
The sewage scandal remains a major concern for the UK public. Last year, over half a million discharges polluted rivers, lakes and seas for a total of 4.7 million hours. New data from Surfers Against Sewage shows the crisis is continuing in 2025. Thames Water, scrambling for investment to avoid collapse, has discharged sewage more than 7,000 times since January. The company has also faced record fines for environmental breaches and breaking dividend rules.
Since the start of the year, Surfers Against Sewage data also shows that water companies have caused over 14,000 discharges into designated bathing waters in England and Wales. 1,118 of these occurred during the peak summer season in July and August.
The UK has over 600 designated bathing waters, popular sites for swimming and water sports that are the only official locations where bacteria is regularly monitored and data published. Monitoring takes place during the bathing season (mid May to the end of September). These sites are critical for providing safety information to the public and creating a legal duty for polluters to act. Yet the data shows that sewage pollution remains a serious problem, even in these protected waters.
Surfers Against Sewage is calling for transformational reform of the privatised water industry in England and Wales, which it says is responsible for destroying the country’s blue spaces. The charity believes the Cunliffe Review into the privatised water sector did not go far enough and that Government must legislate so water companies are forced to prioritise public health and the environment over profit. Surfers Against Sewage is also urging the Government to modernise the Bathing Water Regulations and revise the proposed reforms that are due to be legislated this autumn, calling for the introduction of year-round, real-time testing and monitoring to protect the health of the UK’s vibrant community of water users.
Throughout the challenge, SAS will track pollution in the Thames, monitoring E. coli, ammonia, and oxygen levels with a Seneye water quality sensor. The Thames Swim Against Sewage will carry the demands of the UK’s water community to Parliament, highlight issues across all four nations, and unite athletes with local groups fighting to protect their river.
*Full details of the swimmers representing the four UK nations can be found in the notes to editors*
Dani Jordan, Director of Campaigns and Communities at Surfers Against Sewage said: “As parliament returns after another summer plagued by sewage pollution, the Thames Swim Against Sewage delivers an urgent message to our leaders: end the sewage scandal now. It is highly symbolic that the swimmers will be passing Thames Water’s HQ, the poster child of a broken industry that has prioritised shareholder profits for decades while the public and environment pay the price. We need the government to urgently deliver fundamental transformation of our failing water industry, not hollow speeches and tinkering at the edges. Reform must include fit-for-purpose Bathing Water Regulations with real-time, year-round water quality testing, so our laws finally reflect how people use the water in 2025.
“By joining forces with Olympians and world-class swimmers in this epic event, we are not only shining a spotlight on the sewage scandal but also on the bravery, determination, and unity of those across the UK who refuse to accept our wild waters being treated like open sewers. By swimming from source to the city of the iconic, yet chronically polluted, Thames, this challenge demonstrates the urgent need for action and the public’s clear message to Government: protect our wild waters now.”
Toby Robinson, Paris 2024 Olympian and member of the event relay, adds: “The Thames is absolutely iconic. I’m doing this swim to tell the story of the river – the positive communities working to clean it up and the challenges it faces. I’m also trying to build upon the legacy of the Paris Olympics last year. The Games set a precedent that our urban rivers can be cleaned up enough for city dwellers to enjoy and dip in. This should be a right for all people. Cleaning up the Thames brings this dream one step closer for Londoners.”
Jessika Robson, who will be representing Northern Ireland, said: “I’m joining this relay because swimming has always been a big part of my life, but I’ve also seen firsthand how water pollution affects the places we love. The ongoing issues at Lough Neagh have shown me how fragile our waterways are, and how much we stand to lose if we don’t protect them. Taking part in this swim is my way of giving back to the water that’s given me so much and raising awareness for the need to keep it clean for everyone.”
Welsh Swimmer Emily Forwood said “I’m taking on the Thames Swim Against Sewage because open water swimming is one of the most powerful ways to boost both physical and mental wellbeing, and it should be accessible to everyone. In Wales, we’re lucky to have some of the most stunning wild swimming locations in the world, from peaceful mountain lakes to spectacular beaches, but pollution is putting them all at risk. Everyone deserves safe, clean waters to swim, surf and play in. That’s why we need urgent action and real accountability, so that people and nature are put before profit.”
Calum Maclean, a Scottish wild swimmer and adventurer is also joining the challenge. He said: “As a passionate outdoor swimmer, I want everybody to have the opportunity to safely access water, no matter where they are.
“Even in Scotland – where many people think our waterways are very clean – we have far from a perfect situation. I have friends who have been ill after swimming in our major rivers and have myself seen disgusting water conditions around our coasts. Over the past few years, I have become increasingly aware of the situation with sewage overflows and if I can help raise awareness, then all the better.”
Event details:
· Relay start: Lechlade, Gloucestershire, 1 September, 12:00
· Relay end: Teddington, 4 September, 09:00
· Arrival at Parliament: Westminster, 4 September, afternoon, joined by fellow water users from local Thames communities.
Ends
Images from the event will be shared on the following link, with images of the swimmers available to download: https://surfersagainstsewage.filecamp.com/s/o/KdLFuIuJlC2GYK5c
For more information and detailed timings, or to arrange filming and interview opportunities, please contact:
Danielle Wickham, Senior Press Officer
📧 daniellewickham@sas.org.uk | media@sas.org.uk
📞 01872 555 949
Notes to editors
Further information on the Thames Swim Against Sewage, including a live Swim Tracker, can be found here
Live sewage pollution tracking will be recorded by Seneye and fed through to SAS Data HQ
Bathing Water discharge data referenced is sourced from Surfers Against Sewage Data HQ which tracks sewage discharges in real time. Please contact media@sas.org.uk for further info or additional data requests.
Details on swimmers
England
Toby Robinson- former elite open water swimmer and Olympian, having competed at the Commonwealth and Paris 2024 Olympic Games. He is now a Swimmable Cities Project Ambassador, passionate about improving access to clean water for communities in the UK.
Amber Keegan– GB 2x World Championship and ultramarathon swimmer, who took part in Epic Swim Maui, a UN-backed 220km circumnavigation of Maui for ocean preservation
Wales
Hector Pardoe– world medallist, 2020 and 2024 Olympian, who recently completed the Three Lakes Challenge, breaking records in swimming the three largest lakes in Scotland, England and Wales in under 24 hours. Hector is a vocal advocate for ocean health and improved water quality in the UK.
Emily Forwood- competitive swimmer in both open-water and pool disciplines and member of Welsh National Squad. In 2022, she earned the Open Water Swimmer of the Year (South West) title after dominating her category in regional and national competition.
Scotland
Colleen Blair – lifelong open water swimmer, world record holder and ultra marathon swimmer who has completed an array of challenging swims. Colleen is a Marathon Swimming Mentor and was named one of the World’s 50 Most Adventurous Open Water Women in 2019.
Calum Maclean – adventurer, open water and ice swimmer passionate about using his adventures to encourage others to get outdoors.
Northern Ireland
Jessika Robson – world-record holding ultramarathon and ice swimmer. She is the youngest woman to swim the North Channel and has broken multiple British ice records.
Daniel Smyth – youngest male to swim the North Channel and a rising talent in ultra-marathon swimming. Daniel is deeply committed to protecting our rivers and oceans for future generations.
About Surfers Against Sewage – https://www.sas.org.uk
Surfers Against Sewage is a grassroots environmental charity based in Cornwall, dedicated to the protection of the ocean, waves, beaches and wildlife. It was created in 1990 by a group of Cornish surfers from the villages of St Agnes and Porthtowan on the north coast of Cornwall. In relation to water quality, the charity’s ambition is to end sewage discharge into UK bathing waters, and high-priority nature sites, by 2030. It also campaigns to end plastic pollution, tackle climate change and restore marine habitats.