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

More than 7.5 million people immerse themselves in lakes, rivers, seas and lidos every year in the UK. But getting in the water means getting in pollution too for most outdoor swimmers. Raw sewage was discharged into UK waters for 4.7 million hours during 2024. But sewage is only part of the water pollution problem. Rain washing into rivers and streams contains fertilizers, pesticides and animal waste from farmlands, forever chemicals from car tires, plus drugs from our own bodies. Industry deregulation and privatization have produced a water crisis.