New Policy Brief on improved communication for coastal water safety
Our new policy brief on ‘Enabling informed choices and healthy behaviours’ highlights how policymakers can help protect public health while ensuring people can continue to enjoy coastal environments safely.
Read the full policy brief
Climate change is increasing the risk of harmful pathogens in coastal waters through heavier rainfall, sewage overflows, agricultural runoff and rising water temperatures. While monitoring programmes exist, water-quality information is not always available, timely or easy for the public to understand when making decisions about swimming, surfing and other recreational activities.
Drawing on BlueAdapt research from the UK and Poland, our findings show that clear, trusted and accessible risk communication can help people make informed choices and reduce their exposure to health risks. The brief also includes findings from BlueAdapt’s analysis of user behaviour relating to Surfers Against Sewage‘s Safer Seas & Rivers Service (SSRS app)*. We gratefully acknowledge Surfers Against Sewage’s contribution to enabling this research.
Key takeaways
- Climate change and pollution are increasing waterborne infection risks in coastal waters
- People need timely and easy-to-understand information about water quality
- Clear risk communication can increase awareness, influence behaviour and reduce exposure
- Digital tools and data visualisation are effective, but should be part of a wider communication approach
- Frequent, risk-based monitoring is essential, particularly following heavy rainfall, sewage overflows and runoff events
- Reducing pollution at source remains critical (wastewater management, sewage infrastructure and runoff control)
- Communication, monitoring and pollution prevention must work together
Our policy brief outlines practical, cost-effective recommendations for policymakers to reduce both the risks posed by coastal pathogens and people’s exposure to them. It also highlights how effective communication can build public support for wider adaptation and mitigation measures that improve water quality.
Read the full policy brief to explore the evidence and recommendations in more detail.
Read the full policy brief
*The BlueAdapt project is grateful for the support of SAS in facilitating evidence-based research on their early warning system, ‘Safer Seas and Rivers Service’ application. We will have new results published and a video related to this exciting work coming soon.
