Citizen Science Results
Our UK-wide Citizen Science water quality programme works with communities to reveal the state of their local water quality. For many, this is the only testing that occurs at their favourite swim, surf or paddle spots.
The Surfers Against Sewage Citizen Science programme has been running since May 2023. We’ve supported 40 communities to monitor the water quality of our rivers, lakes and seas that we use recreationally.
Each colour dot on the map show the locations where water quality samples have been collected and analysed to an accredited standard, thanks to citizen scientists.
At all locations, water samples are collected and tested for two types of bacteria: E.coli and intestinal enterococci, along with total coliforms. Because these bacteria thrive in the human gut, they’re often found in untreated sewage and used to flag pollution in the water. The same bacteria are monitored by the regulator – but only if a waterway is designated as a bathing water, and only during the bathing season.