The RYA, as the national authority for sailing in the UK, has long championed sustainability through its programmes like The Green Blue. However, the increasing threat of water pollution, particularly from sewage discharges and agricultural runoff, prompted the organisation to act more decisively. “We are walking a fine line between not scaring people away from the water and campaigning to improve its quality,” noted Phil Horton, Environmental and Sustainability Manager, at the Royal Yachting Association (RYA). “But it’s increasingly clear that poor water quality is beginning to impact participation.”

In early 2023, following health concerns linked to avian flu and sewage overflows affecting club activities and major events, the RYA and British Triathlon initiated conversations with other national governing bodies. This led to the informal formation of a water quality group including British Rowing, Swim England, British Triathlon, and others. By October 2023, the Clean Water Sports Alliance was officially formed.

The Alliance launched publicly in April 2024 at the British Association of Sustainable Sport (BASIS) conference. The launch was met with widespread acclaim and featured national media coverage, including hourly segments on the BBC. “For what’s often seen as a minority sport, being featured so prominently in the media was a huge success,” Horton added.

The Alliance’s calls to action revolve around three main pillars: increased regulation enforcement against polluters, real-time access to water quality data, and the recognition of all recreational water users in water quality policies. The group also advocates for expanding the seasonal and geographic scope of bathing water designations to include year-round and inland usage.

Collaboration is the Key

A key example of the Alliance’s relevance was the disruption of major international events in September 2023, when storm overflows caused pollution incidents near venues in Portsmouth and Southampton. Event organisers were forced to make last-minute decisions on water safety with limited data, highlighting the need for better monitoring infrastructure.

Collaboration has proven central to the Alliance’s success. “It’s that collective voice that has made all the difference,” Horton emphasised. “You have to learn to let go a little and let the message go with others.” Since its formation, the Alliance has gained political traction, contributed to government consultations, and even secured nominations and awards for its advocacy efforts.

While still early in its journey, the Clean Water Sports Alliance is already influencing UK water policy, demonstrating the power of sport-led environmental advocacy. “This wouldn’t have been possible if we’d acted alone,” Horton said. “By working together, we’ve been able to open doors and create real momentum for change.”

Recent Developments

Recent developments include:

• The UK Government’s Bathing Water Consultation. The Clean Water Sports Alliance submitted collective and individual responses, and the Government has accepted most of its positions on water quality testing. The request to expand the definition of bathing waters to include other forms of recreation has been noted for further work. Notable was that the proposals put out for consultation were for the most part reflecting the Clean Water Sports Alliance wording.
• The Clean Water Sports Alliance has been invited to meet with members of the Water Commission, which is reviewing the operation of the water industry in the UK
• The Clean Water Sports Alliance are getting increasing engagement from the water companies and their industry body, wanting to work with the alliance to identify recreational hotspots
• Clean Water Sports Alliance has held meetings with Ministers in the Environment and Sports departments to push its case and to widen the discussion to include access to water

As the Alliance looks to expand its impact and share its model internationally, its approach offers a blueprint for collective action across sport and beyond.