Southampton Waterfront Action Campaign
Clean. Monitor. Educate. Hold to Account.
Southampton is a waterfront city.
The River Itchen, River Test and Southampton Water are part of the city’s identity. Thousands of people sail, paddle, row, swim, fish, walk, work and spend their leisure time beside these waters every year.
At Southampton Water Activity Centre (SWAC), the waterfront is also our home.
That is why we have established the Southampton Waterfront Action Campaign – SWAC.
The campaign aims to bring together local people, watersports participants, community organisations, schools and businesses to help protect and improve Southampton’s rivers, shoreline and wider marine environment.
Our approach is based around four simple principles:
Clean. Monitor. Educate. Hold to Account.
CLEAN
SWAC’ Southampton Shoreline Clean Up– local people looking after our local waterfront
Talking about the environment is important. Sometimes it is even better to put on a pair of gloves, pick up a litter picker and actually do something about it. SWAC is organising regular foreshore and waterside clean-ups assisted by community volunteers
These will include areas such as:
- The River Itchen foreshore
- Weston Shore
- Southampton Water
Most events are open to local residents and community volunteers, not just SWAC members or watersports participants. Where appropriate, trained SWAC paddlers may also use kayaks, canoes and stand-up paddleboards to reach litter that cannot easily be accessed from shore.
We intend to work alongside existing national environmental initiatives wherever possible.
Our aim is simple: Leave Southampton’s waterfront better than we found it.
MONITOR
Understanding what is happening in our water
A clean-looking river is not necessarily a clean river.
Water quality matters to everyone, but particularly to people who sail, paddle, windsurf, swim or work on the water.
SWAC therefore intends to develop a programme of local water-quality awareness and monitoring.
This may include:
- Monitoring published Environment Agency water-quality information
- Monitoring sewage and storm-overflow alerts
- Following pollution incidents affecting the River Itchen and Southampton Water
- Recording visible pollution
- Supporting citizen-science projects
- Exploring regular local testing for E. coli and intestinal enterococci
- Publishing useful water-quality information for local watersports users
We want better information about the water that our students, instructors, volunteers and wider community use.
Surfers Against Sewage already provides sewage pollution information through its Safer Seas & Rivers Service, demonstrating how environmental data can help recreational water users make better-informed decisions.
As our monitoring programme develops, we hope to work with established environmental groups, researchers and other organisations already studying the Itchen and Southampton Water.
EDUCATE
Helping people understand the waters they use
Protecting Southampton’s waterfront starts with understanding it.
Many people use our rivers and shoreline every week without knowing much about the pressures affecting them, where pollution comes from, how water quality is measured or what individuals can do to help.
The Southampton Waterfront Action Campaign wants to help change that. Through our activities, website, courses and community events, we aim to improve understanding of subjects such as:
- River and marine pollution
- Sewage and storm-overflow discharges
- E. coli and recreational water quality
- Plastic and litter pollution
- Wildlife and marine habitats
- Responsible boating and paddling
- Preventing pollution from vessels
- How to report environmental incidents
- How individuals and organisations can reduce their environmental impact
Environmental awareness can therefore form a natural part of our work with: Schools, Youth groups, Watersports courses, Sailability participants, Community organisations, Colleges and universities
HOLD TO ACCOUNT
Cleaning the river is not enough
Volunteers collecting litter from a beach or riverbank are doing something valuable. But communities should not continually have to clean up pollution caused by others. Where environmental standards are not being met, we believe in asking questions.
Where evidence shows a problem, we believe that evidence should be made public. Where pollution occurs, we believe those responsible for preventing, regulating or resolving it should be expected to act.
The Southampton Waterfront Action Campaign will therefore use evidence, transparency and constructive pressure to help hold organisations to account.
That may include:
- Reporting pollution incidents
- Publishing credible water-quality information
- Asking questions about sewage discharges
- Raising concerns with regulators and responsible organisations
- Supporting campaigns for cleaner local water
- Sharing environmental data with the community
- Following up when problems remain unresolved
Our intention is not to criticise organisations simply for the sake of it. We want better outcomes for Southampton’s water quality. When organisations are doing good work, we are equally happy to recognise and support it.
Get Involved
The Southampton Waterfront Action Campaign belongs to the community.
Throughout the year we will publish opportunities to join:
Community Foreshore Cleans
Volunteer for one of our organised Southampton shoreline litter picks.
Paddle Clean-Ups
Experienced paddlers can help reach areas of the riverbank that are difficult to access from land.
Citizen Science
Help us collect meaningful information about litter, pollution and water quality.
Corporate Volunteer Days
Local businesses will be welcome to support projects and provide teams of volunteers.
Schools & Youth Groups
We want the next generation of Southampton water users involved in protecting the environment they enjoy.
Upcoming Southampton Waterfront Cleans
Our programme will include a series of clean-up events around the city.
Event 1 – Itchen Foreshore Clean
Ocean Village to Crosshouse Road Slipway
A community litter pick along the lower River Itchen foreshore.
Event 2 – Weston Shore Clean
Weston Shore, Southampton
A community clean-up of one of Southampton’s best-known stretches of waterfront.
Event 3 – The River Itchen’s Slipways
A community clean-up of one of the River Itchen’s slipways where rubbish collects .
Two Meanings. One SWAC.
Most people know us as:
SWAC – Southampton Water Activity Centre
Our environmental programme gives those initials another meaning:
SWAC – Southampton Waterfront Action Campaign
We teach people to enjoy Southampton’s Water.
We also believe we have a responsibility to help look after it.
CLEAN
Remove litter and rubbish from our shoreline.
MONITOR
Understand and share information about local water quality.
EDUCATE
Help people understand Southampton’s rivers, water quality, pollution and marine environment.
HOLD TO ACCOUNT
Use evidence and transparency to challenge pollution and press for improvement.
Enjoy the water. Understand it. Protect it.