More than 70 water users gathered at Sandown Bay on Saturday as part of the nationwide Surfers Against Sewage Paddle-Out Protests calling for urgent reform of the UK’s broken water system.
Surfers, swimmers, paddle boarders and kayakers stood together in solidarity to demand cleaner waters, an end to sewage pollution, and meaningful action to protect public health and the environment.
National day of action
The Isle of Wight protest formed part of a coordinated national day of action involving more than 50 communities across the UK protesting against a water industry system that campaigners say is making people sick and destroying rivers, lakes and coastlines.
Growing concern among water users
Participants at Sandown Bay highlighted the growing concern among year-round water users about sewage discharges into bathing waters and the failure of current regulations to reflect how people actually use the sea.
Chani Courtney, Senior Communities Officer at Surfers Against Sewage, said,
“The Island stood up and spoke for our waters. The diversity of water users really highlights the need for all water users to count in designated bathing water sites.
“I hope the systems will shift to allow consistent investment for nature-based solutions for the Isle of Wight and all other 56 communities that took part over the weekend. Thank you all so much.”
The Paddle-Out Protests come amid mounting public anger over sewage pollution and concerns over the effectiveness of government action. Surfers Against Sewage says the current privatised water system is failing both people and the environment.
Nationally, campaigners point to alarming statistics including more than 290,000 sewage discharges recorded in 2025 – equivalent to nearly 800 spills a day – alongside thousands of sickness reports linked to polluted waters.
What Surfers Against Sewage is calling for
Surfers Against Sewage is calling on the Government to:
- Put public health before profit
- End the current privatised water industry model
- Remove the profit motive from water companies
- Invest in long-term, nature-based solutions
- Strengthen protections for bathing waters and year-round water users
A once-in-a-generation opportunity
The organisation says proposed reforms currently under consideration do not go far enough and that this moment represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity for transformational change.
The Sandown Bay turnout reflected growing public demand for cleaner seas and stronger accountability, with local communities making clear that no river, lake or coastline should be considered too polluted to protect.
News shared by Paul on behalf of Surfers Against Sewage Isle of Wight. Ed
