Why swimmers still dive in: Research shows how UK communities navigate polluted waters

More than 7.5 million people take to the waters of lakes, rivers, seas and beaches in the UK every year. But getting into the water also means getting polluted for most outdoor swimmers. Raw sewage was discharged into UK waters for 4.7 million hours in 2024. But sewage is only part of the water pollution problem. The rain that flows into rivers and streams contains fertilizers, pesticides and animal waste from farmland, chemicals from car tires, and drugs from our own bodies. Deregulation and privatization of industry have caused a water crisis.