Eastbourne campaigners call for year-round seawater testing
By Sam Powell
On 17th May 2025, dozens gathered on Eastbourne’s beach by the Wish Tower as part of a national “Paddle Out” protest by Surfers Against Sewage (SAS), calling for action on sewage pollution and year-round water testing. Eastbourne’s demonstration, one of 43 nationwide, was organised by Plastic Free Eastbourne, founded by Oliver Sterno in 2018 and designated SAS’s seventh “Plastic Free Community” in 2019.
Local voices urge change
Campaigners want the Environment Agency (EA) to extend water testing off Eastbourne’s beaches beyond the May-September bathing season, citing increased year-round sea swimming, health and environmental risks from contamination.
“We are here for the same reason, and that is because we want to see our oceans and our health protected,” said Emma O’Neill of SAS. “The water system in this country is broken, and now is the time to call for change.”
Emma referenced EA data indicating an increase in “spill” discharge hours across England in 2024. Combined sewer overflow (CSO) discharge reached a record total of 3,614,427 hours, an increase of 8,558 hours (0.22%) compared to the previous year (The Rivers Trust).
“This is simply not good enough, and pollution for profit must stop, and that’s why we’re here today,” Emma added, citing figures available through the Top of the Poops database and UK Parliament stats, showing that Southern Water released untreated sewage for 304,537 hours in 2024, a reduction of 4% compared to 2023, across 29,355 CSOs.
While seawater quality in Eastbourne was rated “good” in 2024, Southern Water still released untreated sewage 91 times, lasting a total of 617 hours, which is a decrease from 2023’s 108 releases lasting a total of 754 hours, and an increase from 2022’s 434 hours. However, this does not cover “spills” from inland pipes into rivers.
“We want the quality to be good all through the year,” Oliver Sterno added. “They test it from May; they should test it in the winter months as well, because we have swimmers here all year round.”
Currently, only citizen science fills the year-round testing gap. More than 30 swimmers were preparing to enter the sea, and just two said it was their first dip that year, highlighting the year-round use. Before they entered, Emma declared: “Our message really is clear, cut the crap and end the sewage scandal.”
Onshore, protesters chanted:
“What do we want? Clean waters!
When do we want it? Now!
Stop the scum, clean the tides!
No more sewage, no more lies!”
Surfers Against Sewage “Paddle Out” event, Eastbourne, 17 May, 2025.
Photo credit: Sam Powell
Oliver Sterno (right) and Chris Mason (left).
Photo credit: Sam Powell.
The sea remained relatively calm for Eastbourne’s 2025 “Paddle Out” event.
Photo credit: Sam Powell
Policy Reform and Accountability
Emma O’Neill also highlighted some progress. Since 2017, Southern Water has not paid shareholder dividends, and the Independent Water Commission, chaired by Sir Jon Cunliffe, is reviewing the sector, inspiring SAS’s ‘Dear Jon’ campaign.
The Water Special Measures Act 2025 also introduces:
- Criminal liability for environmental breaches
- Penalties
- Bonus bans for underperformance
- Independent real-time sewage outflow monitoring
- Mandatory Pollution Incident Reduction Plans
It came into force on June 6th, immediately blocking bonuses for 10 executives across six firms, including Southern Water. Environment Secretary Steve Reed said: “Water company bosses, like anyone else, should only get bonuses if they’ve performed well, certainly not if they’ve failed to tackle water pollution.”
Real-time Event Duration Monitoring has also been in place since 1 January 2025 under Section 81 of the Environment Act 2021.
Jill Shacklock (pictured left) and Robert McGowan of EEAN joined the event, as did Cllr Ali Dehdashty, (then) Mayor Cllr Candy Vaughan and Cllr Andy Collins.
Photo credit: Sam Powell.
Southern Water's plans for Eastbourne
Of four local coastal outflows, three already meet the 2050 target stating that “Storm overflows will not be permitted to discharge above an average of 10 rainfall events per year by 2050” as outlined in the government’s Storm Overflows Discharge Reduction Plan.
The company has pledged £21.36 million for post-2030 upgrades to Eastbourne Wastewater Treatment Works 1, located roughly 2.5 miles offshore, to boost storage and treatment capacity to meet these targets.
A poster outside the Eastbourne Wastewater Treatment Works. It has recently also come under fire due to unpleasant smells in the area.
Photo credit: Sam Powell.
Victorian infrastructure and systemic challenges
Companies cite Victorian infrastructure, increased use, rainfall, and pump failures as reasons for raw sewage release during heavy rain to prevent home backflows, such as the 16 incidents recorded in the Pevensey and Cuckmere catchment in 2019-2020 (see p. 10).
However, campaigners state concerns about “dry spills” during good weather and a lack of past regulatory action. Critics argue England’s fully privatised water system, unique globally, is ill-equipped to tackle these systemic issues. As Parliament noted in 2018, “England is the only country to have fully privatised its water and sewerage system.” With around 15,000 storm overflows in England, pressure for deeper reform is mounting.
Location of Eastbourne’s three main sewage outfall pipes (Langney Point). The other (the rarely used “Granville Road Eastbourne” pipe) is near the Western Lawns.
Photo credit: Sam Powell.
Investment and the cost
In 2023, Southern Water CEO Lawrence Gosden said he apologises “that action was not taken sooner on sewage spills in the South-East,” and endorsed Water UK’s industry-wide £10 billion investment plan from 2023 to 2030.
Southern Water alone has pledged £7.8 billion to upgrade services, with £1.5 billion aimed at cutting sewage spills by 8,000 annually by 2035.
But the costs may fall on customers. Ofwat’s David Black warned of rising bills in late 2024. A 2022 government press release spoke of the difficulties of achieving the ideal solution of separating rainwater and sewage pipes. It stated it “would cost between £350 billion and £600 billion,” while alternative solutions involving storage tanks could cost £160 – £240 billion, all impacting consumer bills.
As the push for cleaner seas continues, progress is steady but costly, reigniting debate over regulation, historic underinvestment and the case for public ownership.
Recommended sewage maps available to the public
Maps to check CSO releases:
- Southern Water Rivers and Seas Watch
- SAS Safer Seas and River Service
- SAS live sewage map
- The Rivers Trust
Map for advice on bathing:
Maps for planned upgrades and release data:
Oliver Sterno (right) and Chris Mason (left) at the “Paddle Out” Protest.
PhotoCredit: Sam Powell.
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