Rowers pass as members of the Bluetits Chill Swimmers, a cold water swimming group, prepare for a dip as the sun shines on the River Thames, Richmond, London, May 10, 2024. The pumping of sewage into rivers and seas has become a major scandal in Britain. Privatised water companies have been accused of prioritising dividends over investment and dumping sewage in waterways when its ailing infrastructure cannot cope. The pollution has deterred wild water swimmers, angered surfers, prompted warnings about toxic blue-green algal blooms in lakes and created an army of people who have become experts on water quality after they noticed changes in waterways. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez