# Safer Seas & Rivers Service — Real-time water quality alerts > UK water quality alerts, pollution information, and beach data for swimmers and surfers. (iPhone/iPad app by Surfers Against Sewage Ltd..) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/safer-seas-and-rivers-service/id1458786821 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Surfers Against Sewage Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1458786820) - Category: Health & Fitness, Lifestyle - Price: Free - Rating: 3.50/5 from 2 App Store ratings · 64 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 15.1 · 100 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2019-05-08 - Data updated: 2026-09-09 - Monetization: free - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/safer-seas-and-rivers-service/id1458786821/reviews.md ## What is Safer Seas & Rivers Service? An ocean dip with a side of dysentery? No thanks. Our award-winning, free-to-download app is the only national Water Quality service keeping you in the loop with what’s happening where in our waters. When it comes to living in the UK, shit happens. And far too much of it in our waterscapes. Untreated sewage and wastewater regularly gush from thousands of sewer overflows around the country. It stinks. Add to that the impact of severe rainfall – which churns all manner of unknown pollutants into the ocean from farming, septic tanks, roads, and urban areas – and it’s not a pretty picture. The Safer Seas and River Service makes it easy to check in, search out a swim, surf, or sail spot, and be served the latest pollution alert for over 450 locations across the UK. The app also includes complementary beach information including tide times and lifeguard services and allows you to take direct action on water quality issues by getting involved in our campaigns or emailing you MP or Water Company CEO when an alert in place. Users can submit a sickness report if they've become unwell after using the water to help aid our campaigning work and reveal the true extent to which sewage pollution is impacting human health. Want to stay safe in the water and help us end sewage pollution? Download the app Safer Seas & Rivers Service to join the campaign and make informed decisions about where and when you enter the water. ## Key features - Real-time pollution alerts - Searchable swim, surf, and sail spots - Over 450 UK locations covered - Complementary beach information - Sickness reporting - Direct action campaigns ## Recent user reviews (10 of 64) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/safer-seas-and-rivers-service/id1458786821/reviews.md ### 5/5 — Much needed information *2026-06-06, version 5.5.1* Excellent information, much needed in this current climate of water companies and their bad behaviour! ### 5/5 — Tells you what you need to know *2026-06-02, version 5.5.1* Always informative, clear and useful. Just a shame there’s need to check water quality so often before swimming. ### 5/5 — Such an important app *2026-05-23, version 5.5.0* This is such an important app for anyone who swims in the sea or wild swims. Thanks so much for creating it! ### 5/5 — Lord Alfred *2026-05-23, version 5.5.0* Very clear and informative App Great to have the insight and knowledge provided ### 5/5 — Check before you swim! *2026-05-15, version 5.5.0* If you get in the water in the uk, this is the app for you. See if raw sewage is discharging live. You can also see the disgraceful performance of the water companies across the country ### 2/5 — Polly *2026-04-27, version 5.4.1* The app history doesn’t align with how often pollution alerts are issued. It’s very confusing to decide whether the info is up to date or not ### 5/5 — Excellent Resource! *2026-04-23, version 5.4.1* This app takes the place of multiple websites. So useful if you go in/on the water! Thanks so much. ### 5/5 — Prosecute the perpetrators - AI guidance *2026-03-10, version 5.4.0* You have hit on the exact legal and moral contradiction at the heart of this issue. You are absolutely right: in principle, causing death or injury through negligence, especially when the risk is "reasonably foreseeable," has always been a potential criminal offence—most notably Gross Negligence Manslaughter (GNM) . The reason it hasn't been applied to water company executives isn't because the law of negligence didn't exist, but because of a specific set of legal hurdles that made it almost impossible to pin that criminal negligence on a specific person in a boardroom. Here is why the "foreseeability" argument hasn't yet led to handcuffs. ⚖️ The "Foreseeability" Principle Does Exist Your understanding is supported by landmark cases. In the famous Cambridge Water Co v Eastern Counties Leather [1994] case, the House of Lords established that for environmental damage, foreseeability of harm is a key requirement for liability . The courts have explicitly recognized that liability should not apply to the "entirely unforeseeable." Furthermore, the law has long provided for corporate manslaughter. A barrister's profile lists numerous cases where company directors have been investigated or charged with Gross Negligence Manslaughter following deaths on farms, in adventure sports, and on construction sites . There is even a reported case of a swimming pool company president being charged with manslaughter after a child died because safety devices were not installed . 🚰 Why Weren't Water Bosses Charged? If the law existed, why didn't it stick to water companies? The Thames Water case from 2021 is a perfect example of the problem. The company was fined £2.3 million for a sewage leak that killed over 1,100 fish. The judge explicitly called the pollution "entirely foreseeable" . Yet, no one went to jail. Here is the barrier that protected them: · The Causation Wall: To secure a manslaughter conviction, you must prove the negligence caused the death. If a river is polluted, is the cause of death the sewage, or is it the fact that a child fell in? Linking a specific boardroom decision (like under-investment) directly to a specific death is legally very difficult . · The Corporate Veil: Prosecutors historically charged the company (Thames Water Utilities Ltd), not the director. The company paid the fine, and the individuals walked away . · Lack of Intent: While "foreseeability" existed, proving the level of negligence required for a crime (gross negligence) against a CEO who never visited the site was a mountain prosecutors weren't willing to climb—until now. 🛢️ The Blueprint for Prosecution It is possible to put executives in prison for water-related crimes, as shown by a recent US case that provides a stark contrast to the UK's history. In April 2025, an oilfield company vice president, Trent Day, was sentenced to five months in prison . An employee and his wife died from hydrogen sulfide poisoning. The executive admitted he should have controlled the emissions as part of his duties and that his failure placed others in "imminent danger of death" . This proves that the legal theory you mentioned—holding individuals criminally accountable for foreseeable environmental deaths—is workable. The UK's new Water (Special Measures) Act 2025 finally mirrors this approach by making it a crime for executives to obstruct or cover up pollution, effectively turning "foreseeable neglect" into a personal, jailable offence. I hope this clarifies why the principle existed but the practice failed. The legal wall protecting them is now much lower. ### 3/5 — River water quality *2026-03-08, version 5.4.0* I’ve down loaded the app to be able to check my local River Rother at Wittersham and Newenden but I can’t seem to find data ? ### 5/5 — Necessary *2026-02-19, version 5.4.0* As a cold water swimmer this information is vital for safe swimming as well as for surfers. ## Frequently asked questions about Safer Seas & Rivers Service ### What is Safer Seas & Rivers Service? Safer Seas & Rivers Service is a free app that provides real-time water quality alerts for over 450 locations across the UK. It helps users find safe places to swim, surf, or sail by showing the latest pollution information. ### How accurate is the water quality data? The app relies on data from national water quality services to provide pollution alerts. Users can also submit sickness reports after using the water, which helps to reveal the true extent of sewage pollution's impact on human health. ### Does Safer Seas & Rivers Service have ads? Based on the provided information, the app does not have advertisements. It is a free-to-download service focused on providing water quality information and facilitating user action. ### What kind of beach information does it offer? In addition to pollution alerts, the app provides complementary beach information such as tide times and details about lifeguard services. This helps users make more informed decisions about their water activities. ### Can I report issues through the app? Yes, users can submit a sickness report if they have become unwell after using the water. The app also allows users to take direct action on water quality issues by getting involved in campaigns or emailing their MP or Water Company CEO. ### What is the age rating for Safer Seas & Rivers Service? Safer Seas & Rivers Service has an age rating of 4+. This indicates it is suitable for children and adults, with no mature content. ### How often is Safer Seas & Rivers Service updated? The latest version of Safer Seas & Rivers Service is 5.5.1, and it was last updated on June 1, 2026. This suggests regular updates to ensure the app's functionality and data accuracy. ### What platforms is Safer Seas & Rivers Service available on? While specific platform availability is not detailed, the app is described as a free-to-download service, implying it is available on major mobile operating systems like iOS and Android. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 5.6.1 — 2026-08-11 In this update, we have made general bug fixes and stability enhancements. ### 5.6 — 2026-07-20 We've redesigned the Take Action tab and refreshed the location details page, including a new section for active campaigns tied to that location, alongside general bug fixes and stability improvements ### 5.5.1 — 2026-06-01 This update makes the app easier and more intuitive for everyone. We’ve improved the onboarding experience, streamlined account creation and sign-up, refreshed the navigation bar and made managing you favourites simpler than ever. We have also completed some general maintenance and bug fixes ### 5.5.0 — 2026-05-12 This update makes the app easier and more intuitive for everyone. We’ve improved the onboarding experience, streamlined account creation and sign-up, refreshed the navigation bar and made managing you favourites simpler than ever. ### 5.4.1 — 2026-03-30 We have made general bug fixes and stability enhancements. ## Related topics [bathing water quality](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/bathing-water-quality) · [sewage](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/sewage) · [water safety](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/water-safety) --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-09.*