Bathing Water Reform

What’s the issue?

Popular swim spots can be designated as a ‘bathing waters’. Once designated, these locations fall under legislation which creates a responsibility for regulators to monitor the water quality. It also puts an legal onus on polluters to end any pollution.

Over the last 30 years, hundreds of coastal sites – including many of our favourite beaches – have been designated. This has led to huge improvements to the water quality in the places where we swim, surf and paddle. That’s why we support communities who want bathing water designation where they live, whether that’s on the coast or inland, to protect their local spot. It’s a vital mechanism that can drive real, lasting change by forcing regulators and polluters to investigate and invest in ending pollution.

But having supported 19 communities to apply for bathing water designation over the past three years, we’ve learnt that the way swim spots are designated is in desperate need of an update.

Over 30 years have passed since the legislation was introduced, and the way we jump into the blue has changed. We have a greater understanding of the risks we face. And we need better protections for the wild waters we love.

What are our demands?

We see five key areas of the Bathing Water Regulations that need to be reformed

1) Extend bathing water season to cover the full year.

As surfers, swimmers, paddleboards and paddlers, we know the water isn’t just for summer. Cold water dipping is increasingly popular, and more people are braving the water in winter than ever before.

But whether you dip in December or June, you deserve to know the risks you face all year round – not just in the summer months.

We need the bathing season to be extended to the full year. This will force regulators to test the water quality of our well-loved spots year-round, and consider this when assessing its quality.

2) Overhaul testing regime to include other pollutants and real-time monitoring.

Did you know that anyone using the water is exposed to a huge range of contaminants – including heavy metals, microplastics, chemicals and anti-microbial resistant bacteria?

Currently, not all of these are monitored at bathing water sites. So water users simply do not know the all risks they face when entering the water.

We’re also dependent on weekly testing through the summer season to give us some understanding of the risks we face when jumping in. But the water quality can vary hugely on an hourly basis.

That’s why we’re calling for real-time monitoring of popular spots, for a much broader range of pollutants.

3) Include all water users when designating a bathing site.

Currently, the bathing water designation process only considers “bathers” (swimmers) as the people using the water.

But we’re a watersport-loving nation. Surfing, kayaking and paddleboarding has boomed recently; not to mention anglers, sailors, and other water lovers.

Bathing water regulations need to reflect, and protect, all recreational water users. We’re demanding change.

4) Overhaul approach to de-designation.

If a designated site is deemed to have ‘Poor’ water quality for five consecutive years, it loses its designated status and is no longer monitored.

But it takes time to assess the water quality of a site, identify the sources of pollution and take action to clean it up. Five years simply isn’t enough time for actual improvement.

And these are popular spots that swimmers and other waters will continue to use. If they’re badly polluted, they need more investment and protection – not less.

5) End disregarding samples and Short-Term Pollution (STP) provisions.

The current water quality testing regime within the Bathing Water legislation is wilfully discounting the worst pollution events in the country. And it’s misleading the public about the safety of the waters.

In the UK, the testing regime allows up to 15% of testing results per bathing site to be disregarded. Not only that, but short-term pollution (STP) events can also be disregarded in the current legislation. These STPs are often high levels of sewage pollution or agricultural runoff.

Every result, from every water quality test, provides insight into the water health of a swim spot. So every result should be included when assessing the overall quality of a bathing water.

We want to see an end to the regulator disregarding samples. Instead, regulators should use all the data available to provide the most transparent assessment of bathing water quality.

Demand change to protect our wild waters

More and more communities are applying for bathing water designation. And having supported a large number of these groups, we know this regulation reform is vital to fully protect our favourite blue spaces.

This would allow for inland and coastal bathing waters to be protected in a way that actually reflects how we use the water. It would make it easier for communities to apply for protections for the blue spaces they love. And it would encourage an increase in the number of wild waters protected.

To do this, we’re calling on the Government to consider the bathing water designation process and criteria when they next review the regulations for bathing waters. And they’re currently consulting: Consultation on Reform of the Bathing Water Regulations 2013 – Defra – Citizen Space

What can you do to help?

We are currently calling on the government to head our demands and take action to protect our favourite blue spaces. And you can too….

Contact [email protected] to be kept updated.