Brits have reacted in "disgust" after finding out that the Cambridge v Oxford boat race will go ahead today, despite record levels of sewage.
Rowers taking part in the contest are being told to avoid direct contact with the water due to "alarmingly high levels" of the bacteria, which can cause a range of infections.
Speaking to GB News one woman said: "We are not happy [with the record sewage.] It is right on our doorstep.
A different woman said: "It is disgusting, absolutely disgusting. Last night when I was walking along road where my daughter lives, there was lots of midges in the air."
A third person said: "I just hope they still have a good race and no one goes in the water and gets sick."
Whilst a fourth told GB News: "I think it is just dangerous for the rowers to be rowing in that kind of water.
"And we should be ashamed that in this day and age we can't control the pollution of our rivers. Really, it's sad because we see this should be about the athletes. Not incompetence."
A final person claimed: "I thought that it was getting better. I didn't think it was getting worse. But we live by the coast and we have that same problem as well on the coast, so it seems to be a general thing."
It comes as Environment Agency data published on Wednesday showed there were 3.6 million hours of spills in 2023, compared with 1.8 million in the previous 12 months.
Water companies discharge waste into rivers and the sea when sewers are overwhelmed by rainwater, with overflows acting as relief valves when the weather in the UK is particularly bad.
However, it has been reported that companies have been using the rivers for waste routinely, polluting the water with sewage when the weather is dry.
Rivers up and down the country are affected by sewage pollution.
Campaigners are hoping to seize on public anger to turn it into an election issue, and force water companies to clean up their act.
Water UK, the industry body for sewerage companies, said it was "unacceptable" but the record levels were due to heavy rain.
These spills are not illegal but environmentalists say they should only happen in exceptional weather.
The Environment Agency said: "It is important to note that heavy rainfall does not affect water companies' responsibility to manage storm overflows in line with legal requirements."
