Our oceans are an incredible natural resource, but as a species, we are treating them like a garbage dump. This can be seen both from the huge floating masses of plastic in our oceans and closer to home by how water companies continue to dump raw sewage into both rivers and our seas. Sewage is a particular problem as well as being quite frankly disgusting, it poses risks to wildlife and public health. As a microbiologist I am especially interested in the bacteria released with the sewage and the potential this has to spread antibiotic-resistant bacteria. As well as forming a reservoir of resistance in the environment, which can spread back into the human population, they can also be swallowed by someone swimming, boating, or fishing in rivers or off our coastline. This in turn can lead to a serious infection that can be difficult or potentially impossible to treat.