Poll: Sewage puts off vast majority of dog owners from letting dog swim in the sea

EMBARGO: 22.30 Sunday 4th August 2024

• Almost 8 in 10 dog owners who visit the beach in the UK say the discharge of untreated sewage means they would be less likely or would not let their dog swim in British seas

• Poll also finds a rise in swimmers put off going into the sea due to untreated sewage 

• New research follows reports by dog owners of their pets becoming sick from water pollution 

• Liberal Democrat MP and qualified vet Danny Chambers calls on the government to “save our dogs from the sewage crisis”

Shocking new polling commissioned by the Liberal Democrats has found almost eight in ten (78%)  British dog owners who visit UK beaches say they are put off letting their dog in the water because of untreated sewage.

Of those dog owners who visit UK beaches often or sometimes in the summer months, a staggering one in three (37%) say sewage discharges have meant they will not let their dogs in the sea at all, whilst one in four (41%) say it makes them less likely. 

Further data shows that seven in ten (74%)  Brits who usually swim in the sea say that they now wouldn’t or would be less likely to, this is an increase from 68% in July 2023. Another six in ten (62%)  beach visitors reveal that they either wouldn’t or are less likely to visit the beach as a direct consequence of water companies pumping untreated sewage into British waters.

The polling comes after recent analysis by the Liberal Democrats found that since 2020, water companies have discharged sewage into bathing water areas 105,347 times, which is equivalent to a staggering 694,487 hours worth of sewage.

The two worst offending companies were United Utilities, which dumped sewage into the Lake District, and South West Water, polluting beaches in Devon and Cornwall. 

The new Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Winchester, Danny Chambers, is a practising vet who has campaigned on tackling the sewage crisis to protect animals. 

There have been reports in the South West of dogs becoming sick after swimming near Exmouth, as well concerns for dog wellbeing in St.Albans due to e.coli. 

Commenting on the research, vet and Liberal Democrat MP Danny Chambers said: 

“The new government must save our dogs from the sewage crisis. Reports from across the country of dogs becoming sick after swimming in the sea are truly shocking, and frankly this is a national scandal. 

“For years, water companies have been pumping filthy sewage into our rivers and seas, whilst the former Conservative Government watched on idly as this environmental catastrophe rumbled on. 

“The British public have had enough, and who can blame them? Everyone has the right to enjoy British beaches this summer, including our four legged friends. It’s high time that we crack down on corrupt water companies and hold them to account until they clean our waters.

“This should start with an immediate ban on water company bonuses, a new industry regulator with real teeth, and an end to profit before the environment.”

ENDS

Notes to Editor:

Liberal Democrat analysis of Environment Agency data of sewage discharges in bathing water sites can be found here.

Full data can be found here

Methodology: Savanta interviewed 2,078 UK adults aged 18+ online on 29^th July 2024. Data were weighted to be representative of the UK by age, sex, region, and social grade.

Savanta previously interviewed 2,272 UK adults aged 18+ online between 21^st and 23^rd July 2023.

Q1. How often do you do the following during the summer months in the UK? Base: All respondents in July 2024 (n=2,078)

Q2. It has been reported that water companies are allowed to discharge untreated sewage into British seas when there is heavy rainfall to prevent treatment plants being overwhelmed. Which of the following best describes your view on how likely you would be to do the following in the UK this summer as a result of these reports?