Massive sculpture at Bristol Harbour has a grim meaning

Flats overlooking the water had a slightly unusual view today

A giant inflatable model of the E-coli bacteria joined dozens of campaigners in Bristol protesting about the cleanliness of rivers and seas around the West Country today.

The huge model, created by Bristol artist Luke Jerram, was installed at Baltic Wharf as crowds took to the water to call on the authorities to do more to prevent sewage pollution in the UK.

It was part of nationwide protests across the country from Cornwall to Scotland. Surfers Against Sewage organised the Paddle-Out Protests, encouraging people to turn up on paddleboards, kayaks and canoes.

Surfers Against Sewage’s Bristol spokesperson Anna Steele-Perkins said is was growing public anger over sewage dumping, environmental damage and rising water bills in Britain.

“Profit always comes before people and nature. It’s inhumane and I’ve had enough,” she said. “Whether you’re a surfer, paddle-boarder, wild swimmer, or are simply sick of rising water bills, we gathered to demand an end to sewage being dumped into our precious waterways,” she added.

Surfers Against Sewage’s research found that more than 1,200 people reported illness after the UK’s seas, rivers and other waterways, with 74 per cent of cases happening at what is supposed to be ‘good’ or ‘excellent’ bathing waters. There have been more than 7,000 reports since SAS’s ‘Safer Seas and Rivers Service’ app was launched back in 2019, it said.

Water companies allowed raw sewage to flow into England’s rivers and seas more than 300,000 times in 2025 alone.

The organisation said the aim of the national protests was to “put pressure on the government, water companies and the regulators to end to the sewage scandal”.

In Bristol, the E-coli model was displayed on the water’s edge between the Cottage Inn and Brunel’s SS Great Britain at Baltic Wharf and could be seen from afar.

The inflatable installation is five million times larger than the real bacteria, which can cause serious illness when present in contaminated water.

Artist Luke regularly takes to the water of the Floating Harbour himself on a kayak, and created the sculpture to go on public display back in 2017 for the KREBS Fest at the University of Sheffield.

It’s since been on public display around the country, including at the National Museum of Scotland in 2022.

Luke said: “Imagine the docks in 2030, where the water is transparent and there’s a lido for the public to swim in after work in the summertime, just like they have in Copenhagen.

“I think we have the opportunity to make this happen for the next generation of people living in Bristol if we act collectively and choose to make it happen. Let’s do it!”