There is a sewage crisis in the UK. Water companies are pouring too much toilet waste into rivers and seas. Swimmers are getting sick in the sea. People hate the terrible smell on beaches and the brown sea water. A quarter of swimmers might not swim in the sea. Last week, 57 people got diarrhoea after swimming in a triathlon.

England and Wales are the only countries with privatized water. They sold their water to private companies in 1987. The companies promised to make services better. However, they did not spend enough money. There are still many leaks. The companies have not modernized systems. A campaigner blamed the UK government.