Only two-thirds of UK beaches meet our MCS Recommended standard for excellent bathing water quality - we don’t think this is good enough! We want to be able to recommend far more than that.

Poor water quality is largely due to sewer overflow pipes (called Combined Sewer Overflows, or CSOs for short) and storm runoff from farmland and urban areas. Britain has 22,000 CSOs and at least 500 of our beaches have one. These pipes carry raw sewage and storm water into the sea but only a fraction of CSOs are monitored to see just how much sewage they are discharging.

MCS wants to see the entire network of CSOs mapped and monitored. Where problem CSOs are identified, water companies need to improve both the capacity and management of their sewerage networks to stop them polluting our coast.

You can help us – if you see a pipe at the beach with sewage contaminated water pouring out of it, please tell us by using our discharge reporting form on the right-hand side of this page. We will use this information to build an evidence base of where active CSOs are causing problems.

If you spot a pollution incident at your beach you should contact your relevant environmental agency’s Pollution Hotline so that they can investigate the problem. It’s the same free number whether you’re in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland – 0800 807060.

Sewage overflow can sometimes contain condoms, tampons and cotton bud sticks - bathroom waste which should have gone in the bin but has been flushed down the toilet instead. Sewage and litter pollution is not only an eyesore but is also a danger to us and marine wildlife.

You can HELP us turn the tide on pollution by joining the MCS Beachwatch Big Weekend - the UK's biggest annual beach clean up and litter survey.

Support other MCS campaigns...

• Less than 1% of the UK's seas are fully protected VOTE NOW for Marine Reserves you want to protect
• Help take the pressure off depleted fish stocks by using the MCS Good Fish Guide
• If you have seen basking sharks, marine turtles or jellyfish in UK and Irish waters, please report your sighting to MCS
• Our charity work is largely funded by the public, and it's thanks to this support that MCS continues to speak up for our seas. Help MCS by becoming a valued member now.