Authorities urged to deal with UK's polluted waterways

The call comes following incidents like the Oxford men’s crew falling ill following the Boat Race and multiple norovirus cases at the UK leg of the World Triathlon Championship Series in Sunderland.

The current state of pollution has prompted seven organisations to form the Clean Water Sports Alliance, with the aim of tackling the problem.

Alongside RYA, the alliance features the Angling Trust, British Rowing, British Triathlon, GB Outrigger, Paddle UK, and Swim England.

Campaigners from Surfers Against Sewage (Image: Emily Whitfield-Wicks/PA)

The organisations are calling for greater and faster action to tackle the release of sewage and other pollution into UK waterways.

Sara Sutcliffe, the RYA's chief executive, said: "Definitely we’ve got to beat [the drum] louder.

"If we were hearing the right noises, we wouldn’t have had to come together in the way we have.

"I think we’re at a pivotal moment. There has to be action from the top and I think there hasn’t been enough action being led by government and regulators, and they’ve got to take action before it’s too late."

The government and water companies have faced growing criticism as polluted waterways not only cause environmental damage but also pose risks to public health.

British Triathlon chief executive, Ruth Daniels, said: "There’s definitely more awareness but it does feel that it’s got worse, if you look at the sewage that’s being pumped out by water companies.

"They are big corporations with lots of money, with an out-of-date infrastructure, and the investment and money is not going back into the system."

The Clean Water Sports Alliance is calling for better funding for regulators to monitor and hold polluters responsible and a change in terminology from bathing to recreation waters to better acknowledge the expanse of activities relying on clean water.

The government and Water UK maintain that they are taking actions.

A government spokesperson said: “Sewage pollution in our waters is unacceptable, which is why we have taken action to ban water bosses’ bonuses when criminal breaches have occurred, quadrupled company inspections next year, provided more funding to our water regulators and fast-tracked investment to cut spills.”

A Water UK spokesperson added: “We agree everyone should be able to enjoy our rivers and seas. The quality of our bathing waters has transformed with seven times as many beaches classed as ‘excellent’ since the 1990s.

“However, sewage spill levels remain unacceptable, so water companies in England have proposed £10 billion to reduce spills by nearly 40 per cent by 2030.”