Editor<p><strong>Almost half of Brits say they would never swim in the sea – with the number rising sharply amid sewage scandal</strong></p><p>The poll also found that less than a fifth (18%) of people say they would actually be more likely to swim in the sea if the Government meets its target of cutting spills in half.</p><p>Staggeringly, more people (19%) said even if the Government hit its target, they would actually be less likely to swim in the sea, with 45% of people saying they still would not swim in the sea.</p><p>People were also asked if they went swimming in the sea during the summer months and if they now would not due to sewage dumping. The poll found close to three in ten (29%) of those who said they go swimming in the sea now said they will not do it at all due to sewage dumping. This is a rise of six percentage points from 23% in just two years, when the same poll was conducted for the Liberal Democrats in 2023.</p><p>The Liberal Democrats said the figures laid bare a “coastline crisis” with people “afraid” of enjoying the British summertime due to rampant sewage dumping. The party said that the Government would not be able to end the sewage scandal without giving the planned new regulator the power to levy serious and higher fines and holding persistent sewage dumpers criminally responsible.</p><p>Previous <a href="https://top-of-the-poops.org/constituencies" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">data</a> has shown that the Welsh coastal constituencies of Ceredigion Preseli, Dwyfor Meirionnydd, Mid & South Pembrokeshire are all in the top 10 most sewage-polluted in the UK, with Ceredigion Preseli taking the number one spot. While the River Tawe was the most sewage-filled in Wales and one of the worst in the entire UK.</p><p>The same <a href="https://top-of-the-poops.org/company/dwr-cymru-welsh-water" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">data</a> also showed that Dwr Cymru was the worst offender of all water companies, despite its small size compared to many in England.</p><p><strong>Commenting, Welsh Liberal Democrat Senedd Candidate for Gŵyr Abertawe (Swansea & Gower) and Swansea Waterfront Cllr Sam Bennett said:</strong></p><p>“This coastline crisis threatens to wreck Welsh summers, with people afraid of swimming in the sea due to rampant sewage dumping. These polluting firms have been let off the hook at every turn, and it is our local environments and people’s summer holidays that are suffering the consequences.</p><p>“In communities like mine, the sewage crisis poses a serious risk not only to wildlife and human health, but also to our thriving tourism industry.</p><p>“Both the UK and Welsh Governments have failed to get to grips with this crisis, and the public expect more than a job half done.</p><p>“The Welsh Liberal Democrats will be running on a platform to clean up our waterways for good at next year’s Senedd elections. That means a full ban on water company executive bonuses, higher and more persistent fines for breaches and for a strong regulatory body that actually enforces the rules.”</p><p></p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://swanseabaynews.com/tag/dwr-cymru/" target="_blank">#DwrCymru</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://swanseabaynews.com/tag/open-water-swimming/" target="_blank">#openWaterSwimming</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://swanseabaynews.com/tag/sewage/" target="_blank">#sewage</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://swanseabaynews.com/tag/welsh-liberal-democrats/" target="_blank">#WelshLiberalDemocrats</a></p>
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Water temp of 17 today vs air temp of 13-16, but it was windy and the water was as choppy as I've seen it.
Despite swimming through the last two winters, lizard brain still looked at the dark, dark water, felt the wind, and went "welp!"
Waiting for the #OpenWaterSwimming season to start. Grab your suit, it's time to hit the chuck!
Water temp is now above fifteen so the triathletes are all back. I love seeing the venue filled with a flotilla of tow floats.
I managed 750m, so starting to get exercise rather than just cold water immersion.
I really liked this piece by @petecarr
So many swimmers rave about the dopamine hit of cold water exposure. I don't get that. Mostly I just feel cold.
Nevertheless there's something very powerful in overcoming the lizard brain's very well-founded response to being in cold-water. I feel the fear and do it anyway (subject to rational safety assessment.) In a world where my brain is constantly rattling, facing that primal fear is very powerful.
https://pete.news/hellocomputer/has-5-years-of-cold-water-dipping-liberated-me-from-my-fears/
#OpenWaterSwimming
pete.news · Has 5 years of cold water dipping liberated me from my fears?After five years of cold water dips am I a fearless functional human being or am I still failing at life?
I really wasn't in the mood for swimming today but I went anyway, and the sun was shining and there were new swimmers to welcome, so batteries recharged slightly. Not actually warmer than last week though, despite a full week of sunshine. Cold nights are still dragging temperatures down.
As the days lengthen and water temperatures rise, the first triathletes appear, flexing their wetsuits tentatively and cautiously ducking their heads under the water. Some are old hands, joyously returning to their spring rituals, but some are hesitantly approaching the water for the first time.
As of today I have now swum through the whole winter, and racked up over 15 sub 10 swims.
The joy of the open water swimmer when it gets above 8 degrees and the sun is shining. #ColdWaterSwimming #OpenWaterSwimming
Slight missing image on my recent #ColdWaterDipping article. I've fixed it now and hopefully the piece makes sense.
https://pete.news/hellocomputer/has-5-years-of-cold-water-dipping-liberated-me-from-my-fears/
pete.news · Has 5 years of cold water dipping liberated me from my fears?After five years of cold water dips am I a fearless functional human being or am I still failing at life?
Writing a follow-up piece to my 5th anniversary of cold water dipping post for today's #HelloComputer.
https://pete.news/hellocomputer/has-5-years-of-cold-water-dipping-liberated-me-from-my-fears/
pete.news · Has 5 years of cold water dipping liberated me from my fears?After five years of cold water dips am I a fearless functional human being or am I still failing at life?
On Hello Computer newsletter this week: "After five years of cold water dips am I a fearless functional human being or am I still failing at life?"
Read and sign up: https://pete.news/hellocomputer/has-5-years-of-cold-water-dipping-liberated-me-from-my-fears/
pete.news · Has 5 years of cold water dipping liberated me from my fears?After five years of cold water dips am I a fearless functional human being or am I still failing at life?
A bit of Qi Gong to connect with the world and the birds before getting in the river for a dip. Water temp about 3c. Air temp about 2c. Wind was fresh.
Absolutely loved the last 4 days of dips. It’s the best time of year for swimming. #OpenWaterSwimming #Photography
If I said cold water dipping was like BDSM, would you be more interested in trying it? What if DryRobe sold nipple clamps? #ColdWaterSwimming #WildSwimming #BDSM #OpenWaterSwimming
https://pete.news/hellocomputer/is-cold-water-dipping-like-bdsm/
pete.news · Is Cold Water Dipping like BDSM?It's a bit unusual to go for a cold dip in a storm, but any more so than nipple clamps?
the most effective - if short-lived - #MS therapy for me #OpenWaterSwimming #ColdWaterSwimming #Sea
Very clever winter beach activity by Rachel Andrews. Collecting black rocks in contractor bucket and then creating stone fishes using those black rocks.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1GkDMpdmdc/
Her Awaken Your Blue Mind challenge.
#AYBM #OpenWaterSwimming #Swimming #UK
www.facebook.comRachel AndrewsHere's an example of one of the challenges in the Bluetonic Awaken Your Blue Mind winter wellbeing challenge. There are over 100 challenges in, on or around water to choose from, and you join...
Friend is showing how Open Water Swimming is done. 