Swansea surfers David, Jake, Callum (l-r) with Finn the dog - Caswell Bay

Thanks to a series of EU measures, our beaches are now cleaner and safer than ever before.

 

**Photo credit: Rhys Hall (rjh@searat.me.uk)***

 

 

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Wales now has more blue flag beaches per mile than any other part of the UK.

 

Surfer Callum Thomas, 21, from Loughor (pictured with Welsh flag), said:

 

“Clean water is so important for everyone, not just surfers.

 

“I’ve taken part in a competition where the water didn’t match what we have here on Gower and ended up ill, and so did other competitors.

 

“If the sea isn’t clean, you can end up being sick for weeks so this is about more than being able to see your feet when you are swimming.”

 

“I’m lucky to have grown up at a time when our beaches were cleaned up and where everyone can enjoy safe bathing water.”

 

 

Nils Dindorp, 50, from Southgate, Swansea, regularly surfs but recognises that the water is very different to how it was in the 1970s and 80s:

 

“People often got ill taking in seawater and you would find sewage floating around.

 

“Even out of the water, there would be tar and oil on the beaches. Surfers Against Sewage campaigned for real change and I’m glad that tougher legislation meant our beaches had to be cleaned up.

 

“My kids use the water now and I’m glad that they won’t face what we did.”

 

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