Channel 4's Dirty Business has put water quality back in the spotlight. For wingers and windsurfers, the question is simple: how do I know if it's safe to get in?
Here's the honest answer: there's no perfect system. But there are tools that can help you make informed decisions-and it's worth using more than one.
KnotNow: Water Quality in Your Forecast
We built water quality monitoring into KnotNow because we didn't want you to have to juggle separate apps. On each location's forecast page, you'll see sewage discharge alerts alongside wind, tide and weather. If a storm overflow has been active recently, we'll flag it.
What we show: Real-time operational status from water company outfalls in England. We highlight discharge events for a 48-hour precautionary window-because dispersal times vary and it's better to err on the side of caution.
What we don't show: Our data comes from the water companies themselves. We can only display what they report. Coverage is England only-Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use different monitoring systems. And we don't cover every outfall; some spots have no nearby monitoring.
We built water quality into KnotNow because you deserve to see sewage alerts alongside your wind forecast-not buried in a separate app. But it's one tool, not the whole picture.
Surfers Against Sewage App
The Surfers Against Sewage Safer Seas & Rivers Service app is free and covers beaches, rivers and lakes across the UK. It draws on Environment Agency data and provides real-time pollution alerts. Many wingers use both: KnotNow for the full forecast (wind, tide, water quality in one place), SAS for broader UK coverage and river spots.
The 48-Hour Rule
After heavy rainfall, storm overflows are most likely to activate. Many experts suggest waiting at least 48 hours after a significant downpour before entering the water-especially near river mouths, where runoff concentrates.
Know Your Spot
Some locations are more vulnerable than others. Estuaries, spots downstream of sewage works, and beaches with known combined sewer overflows deserve extra caution. Use the water quality section on each KnotNow forecast to see the monitoring status for your spot.
Don't Let Them Win
As Reuben Santer said in his campaign: don't let this dirty business put you off getting in the water. Instead, empower yourself with the tools to know when it's safe. Check the forecast. Sign the petition. And keep enjoying our waters-we can't let them win.