Seven national governing bodies of water-based sports have announced they are forming The Clean Water Sports Alliance, calling for clean open water across the UK.
The alliance includes: the Royal Yachting Association, Angling Trust, British Rowing, British Triathlon, GB Outrigger, Paddle UK and Swim England, all of which are calling for an end to water pollution.
Collectively, the organisations represent almost 450,000 members, elite athletes, participants and water users across the country who rely on UK waters for sport and recreation.
By uniting, the Clean Water Sports Alliance will work together to influence decision makers and drive change, working collaboratively to highlight issues and create solutions to help return the UK’s blue spaces to be where nature can thrive and sport and recreation can be enjoyed.
Pollution from various sources contaminates UK inland and coastal waters, damaging ecosystems and causing illness in people who take part in water-based sports and activities. Events and training sessions are sometimes cancelled due to the poor water quality. The Alliance has set out three priorities that will inform its actions:
1. Further and faster action on pollution. Improving the health of UK waters by 2030
2. Enable people to make real-time informed choices about where and when to participate in water-based sports and activities
3. Recognition of all recreation
