Helen Tandy, Eco Communities & Chester Rep for Surfers Against Sewage
In 2024, water companies in England recorded 2,487 pollution incidents—more than double the target set by the Environment Agency. This marks the highest number in over a decade, despite repeated promises to clean up their act.
The water industry pledged to reduce pollution by 40%. Instead, we’ve seen a 30% increase. Our rivers and oceans are in crisis.
Closer to home, the River Dee is widely used for swimming, kayaking, paddleboarding and family recreation—but until a river is officially designated as a bathing water, there is no legal requirement to monitor its safety for human contact.
That’s why Surfers Against Sewage is organising a nationwide Paddle Out Protest this Saturday—and Chester is taking part.
Chester local Adam Caris, a regular user of the River Dee, reached out to Surfers Against Sewage to ensure Chester joined the UK-wide protest:
“As a keen swimmer, canoer and kayaker, I love spending time in and around the Dee and gain massively in terms of my physical and mental health—as do countless others. The river needs as many friends and supporters as it can get. Let’s get out there and show how much we care about clean and healthy environments for local people, nature and future generations.”
Join the Paddle Out Protest
📍 Sandy Lane Water Park, Chester
🗓 Saturday 17th May
🕝 2:30 PM
The protest is a peaceful demonstration calling for an end to sewage discharges into UK rivers and seas by 2030.
Chester’s bid for bathing water status was rejected last year due to insufficient casual bather numbers, despite significant local use.
Dianne Parrish, from Chester Frosties (An open water Facebook Group Diane Set up in 2013) and the ‘Clean Dee’* Campaign, highlights this issue:
“Thousands of people come into contact with River Dee water every year—not just swimmers. Rowers, sailors, kayakers, paddleboarders, anglers, triathletes, children, and even carnival float participants all use the river. Yet, current criteria only count non-event swimmers. All river users need protection.”
With new rules expected soon to allow all river users to be counted—not just swimmers—campaigners are calling on the community to turn out, keep the momentum going, and help make the River Dee a safe, protected space for all.
Barry Johnston is part of the Clean Dee Campaign and admin of the Facebook Group explains more on the issues being faces:
“As an open water swimmer, I aim to swim in the Dee nearly every day. But after high rainfall, the upstream sewers in Wrexham and nearby villages overflow, which stops me getting in. Other countries have safe clean water in their rivers all year round, even in capital city rivers. Britain could do the same! With the laboratory bills paid for by surfers against sewage, and by other charities, my friends and I have been testing the River Dee for sewage pollution bacteria. What we have found is that if the water levels are low and when it hasn’t rained hard for several days, the River Dee’s water quality is very good. But after heavy rain, when the sewers overflow, the bacteria levels shoot up to 10 tines, 100 times even 1000 times baseline levels.
British law says the sewers should only overflow in exceptional circumstances. Exceptional is the key word. But many sewers in the River Dee catchment, including five in Chester City Centre, overflow 50-80 times a year. It’s clear that Welsh Water are flagrantly breaking pollution law because the idea of exceptional rainfall averaging over once a week is simply not credible”
Why is Bathing Water Status important?
Bathing Water Status would mean more testing by The Environment Agency, they must monitor levels of bacteria such as E. coli and intestinal enterococci, which indicate sewage or agricultural pollution. This legal status holds polluters (like water companies and farms) more accountable. This is why Saturday is no important and the film showing as part of Chester Green Weekend – both activities are to raise awareness and support to get our water the status it deserves but to do these we need to be using the water….
For more information visit – https://www.sas.org.uk/water-quality/our-water-quality-campaigns/paddleoutprotest/
‘Clean Dee’ is the bathing water designation ‘campaign name’ which was adopted by the CW&C when they took the lead for the Clean Dee bathing designation application process in 2023.
