Clean Water Action Update
The official bathing season ends on Sept 30 when volunteers from the Clean Water Action Group (CWAG) will be testing the local sea water again. CWAG will be taking weekly samples on two bathing beaches, Pelham and St Leonards, from September through to late December, measuring for bacteria that indicates the presence of sewage. This complements the weekly testing they have been doing since May in Bulverhythe (not currently a designated bathing beach) with support from Surfers Against Sewage.
Despite the popularity of swimming all year, the Environment Agency only tests during the bathing season (May 15-Sep 30) and CWAG is one of the many environmental groups pressing for year-round testing. They hope evidence from the upcoming autumn and winter months will increase the pressure on both Southern Water and the Government to step up monitoring and reduce pollution, focussing our money on infrastructure investment and clean water rather than bonuses and bill increases.
Hastings and Rye MP, Helena Dollimore has mentioned CWAG’s work several times in the House of Commons, and in the recent Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee report on priorities for water sector reform.
Based on the event duration monitors (EDMs) on each of the five combined sewage outfalls (CSOs) across Hastings and St Leonards, there have been fewer sewage releases compared to last year in the first half of 2025. In large part, this is likely due to the dry Spring; however, we’ve seen more releases in the recent wet July weather and this will inevitably increase as we approach winter.
Alongside the testing, CWAG will also be running several free public events from September to November, ensuring people in the area are confident about entering the water, that they understand the value of monitoring sea water quality and the positive impact of keeping the water and beach clean for our health and the wider ecosystem. These include:
- A panel talk at the Lido Land exhibition, Electro Studios & Gallery (Sept 6) in collaboration with Standing Up for Nature (@standingupfornature).
- A beach clean with young people from Ark Academy School, in collaboration with Emma Ridout (@pickingupplastichastings).
- A ‘Creative Gossip’ circle discussion drawing on particular and collective wisdom and exploring our complex and eternal relationship with water in collaboration with Afri-Co-Lab (@afri.co.lab)
- A special ‘Dipping Your Toe’ first sea-swim event in collaboration with Swimming Sisters, a project led by The Lotus Flower (@thelotusf) – which supports women who have faced barriers to accessing the essential life skill of swimming: helping them overcome their fear of water, develop swimming skills, connecting with new friends across different communities, and accessing mental health support.
- A shoreline seaweed hunt, as part of the Natural History Museum’s Big Seaweed Search, with local eco-swimwear designer, The Sea Change (@theseachange.co.uk) and the Hastings Kelp Project (@hastingskelpproject).
When clean and clear, Hastings and St Leonards have some of the loveliest beaches on the SE coast, with sightings of seals, dolphins and even a humpback whale! CWAG wants an end to the obscene profiteering and pollution in the private water industry, with a transformed twenty-first century system that prioritises people and the environment.
To this end they are committed to keeping up the pressure on Southern Water, the Environment Agency and the Government, while ensuring the evidence and information they gather is shared widely, enabling more people to feel confident in making informed decisions about paddling, bathing, fishing and using our beaches.
CWAG is entirely volunteer led. Their testing is currently funded through the Southern Water Goodwill Fund, administered by Sussex Community Foundation with support from Surfers Against Sewage.
Follow their activities and information on Instagram @cleanwateractgp or Clean Water Action on WhatsApp. If you want to offer your support, donations or hear more about our work email [email protected]
We hope you have enjoyed reading this article. The future of our volunteer led, non-profit publication would be far more secure with the aid of a small donation. You can also support local journalism by becoming a friend of HIP. It only takes a minute and we would be very grateful.
Leave a Reply