SURFERS in Belfast will join thousands around the UK today who are staging a mass protest against the level of raw sewage in seas and rivers.
Action group Surfers Against Sewage has organised the protest to call for an end to pollution.
More than seven million tonnes of raw sewage is dumped into Northern Ireland's seas and rivers every year, according to figures released last year.
Ruby Free, who lives outside Portglenone in Co Antrim, will be among those protesting today.
A keen surfer from the age of eight, she has previously fallen ill from sewage discharge.
"I absolutely love surfing and getting in the water," she said.
"If I'm in the sea it's usually around Portrush or White Park Bay. It's beautiful surfing here but there's a big problem with sewage discharge.
"I've surfed in areas where I have not felt well the next day, then someone has told me 'you realise there is discharge there'."
Ms Free said sewage discharge is often not visible.
"If you ingest it it's not good," she said.
"It happens to lots of people. Lots of surfers and water users that I know have had the same problem.
"That's why we're so passionate about organising the protest."
Protesters will gather at Titanic Belfast at 1pm today and walk to The Salmon of Knowledge.
Ms Free said although people in the Republic and Britain have access to live data about sewage spills, that information is not available in the north.
She said sewage pollution "is just one of several issues which affect our oceans".
"It's about raising awareness," she said. "A lot of people are shocked that when you tell them that over the last 20 years over 120 million tonnes of raw sewage has been dumped in Northern Ireland's rivers."
She said the north's rivers generally have poor water quality.
"I hope local people campaign on this issue," she said.
She added: "Our population is growing but our ways of managing water and sewage is completely outdated.
"It's a capacity problem."
NI Water has previously advised that sewer networks are designed to overflow into watercourses or the sea during periods of heavy rainfall to relieve pressure on the system.
Last year, the Utility Regulator said NI Water requires investment of around £2bn in water and wastewater services over a six year period.
