WATERSPORTS in the UK face a pivotal moment because of pollution and action must be taken before it is too late, according to the head of the Royal Yachting Association.

The RYA is one of seven governing bodies representing water-based sports that have come together to form the Clean Water Sports Alliance.

The CWSA, which also includes the Angling Trust, British Rowing, British Triathlon, GB Outrigger, Paddle UK and Swim England, is calling for greater and faster action to tackle the release of sewage and other pollution into UK waterways.

Sara Sutcliffe, chief executive of the RYA, told the PA news agency: “Definitely we’ve got to beat [the drum] louder. If we were hearing the right noises, we wouldn’t have had to come together in the way we have.

“I think we’re at a pivotal moment. There has to be action from the top and I think there hasn’t been enough action being led by government and regulators, and they’ve got to take action before it’s too late.

“We have such a rich diversity of waterways that are there for the health of the nation and, if they let it get too bad, it’s going to be even more expensive to rectify. We’re doing this for future generations as much as anything.”

There has been growing criticism of the government and water companies over the issue, which can lead to sickness among people taking part in sporting activities as well as environmental damage.

British Triathlon chief executive Ruth Daniels said: “There’s definitely more awareness but it does feel that it’s got worse, if you look at the sewage that’s being pumped out by water companies.

“They are big corporations with lots of money, with an out-of-date infrastructure, and the investment and money is not going back into the system.”

High-profile events have been affected, with members of the Oxford men’s crew at the Boat Race last month complaining of sickness, while dozens of people contracted norovirus at the UK leg of the World Triathlon Championship Series in Sunderland last summer.

The alliance said other events and training sessions have had to be cancelled because water has been deemed unsafe, and better quality information on water quality is one of its demands.

The body is also calling for regulators to be adequately funded to monitor, investigate and hold polluters to account, while it is advocating a change in terminology from bathing waters to recreation waters to recognise the range of activities that depend on clean water.

The government insists it is taking action, with a spokesperson saying: “Sewage pollution in our waters is unacceptable, which is why we have taken action to ban water bosses’ bonuses when criminal breaches have occurred, quadrupled company inspections next year, provided more funding to our water regulators and fast-tracked investment to cut spills.”