The River Avon runs through Bristol, England, where there’s a dedicated community of open water swimmers who swim in the river. Some do it all year long, even though sewer overflow runs into the river, especially after rainstorms, polluting the water.
A group of swimmers is campaigning for the Avon to get bathing status by the British government, which would mean the water would be regularly tested for pollutants and dumping, and the waters would have to be kept clean enough to be safe for swimmers.
Charlotte Sawyer tells the story of the swimmers and activists fighting to protect the river in the documentary “Rave on for the Avon.” Here & Now‘s Scott Tong speaks with Sawyer and Megan Ruth-Trump, one of the swimmers and activists in the film.
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