Bathing water reforms trouble conservation experts

Surfers Against Sewage and The Rivers Trust raise concerns that the ‘feasibility test’ could result in polluted swimming spots being abandoned instead of helped

The government is developing plans to expand the definition of ‘bathers’ to include paddleboarders and surfers. It will also look to introduce multiple monitoring points at each bathing water location.

The news comes as the government confirms that applications for new bathing waters in England will re-open in May, the start of the 2025 bathing water season. Prospective sites will be assessed against the government’s newly reformed standards, set to become law later this year.

Updating bathing water regulations is part the wider action government is taking to resolve the water system, including banning bonuses for polluting water bosses through the Water (Special Measures) Act to ringfencing customer money for infrastructure upgrades.

The government has also launched the largest review into the water sector since privatisation, to consider where further reform is needed.

Emma Hardy, Water Minister said, “The government is upgrading outdated regulations so they are fit for purpose. It is also why we are re-opening applications for new bathing sites in England, so that more people have the opportunity to experience the benefits of our beautiful waters.”

Key reforms will include:

• Removing fixed bathing season dates (currently running from May to September) from the regulations to allow a more flexible approach to monitoring
• Further considering a site’s feasibility to improve, public safety and environmental considerations when applications for new bathing waters are assessed.
• Ending the automatic de-designation of bathing water status after five consecutive years of a site being rated ‘poor’. Instead, underperforming sites will be individually reviewed by regulators.

Following a public consultation, UK and Welsh governments will now look to formally update the regulations in their respective areas this Autumn. Over £100 billion of private sector money will be invested into the water sector.

Ben Seal, Head of Access and Environment at Paddle UK, on behalf of the Clean Water Sports Alliance, said, “We are pleased that with these new reforms, the government is showing it recognises the diversity of where, when and how the public wish to enjoy blue spaces.

“We hope this announcement will have a ripple effect on the government’s plans for wider reform across all our waters, helping turn the tide on pollution and giving more people an opportunity to access cleaner, safer waters for recreation.” 

“The proposed ‘feasibility test’ that deems some areas too polluted to protect will feel like a snub to communities who are simply asking the government for help…”

But Surfers Against Sewage expressed concern that the government announcement could create more barriers to improving water quality, putting the health of water users at risk. In particular, it cited the feasibility test that could result in a swimming spot that is deemed too polluted and expensive to fix being unable to receive bathing water status.  

Dani Jordan, Director of Campaigns and Communities at Surfers Against Sewage described the reforms as “a damp squib”. She added, “The common-sense changes to the regulations are welcome, but long overdue. The proposed feasibility test that deems some areas too polluted to protect will feel like a snub to communities who are simply asking the government for help in tackling the pollution of their local bathing spots, so that they can enjoy them safely.”  

Tessa Wardley, Director of Communications and Advocacy, The Rivers Trust was also unconvinced by the feasibility test. “We must protect our swimmers, paddlers, and all river users - it is not okay to simply chuck in the towel when things get difficult.”

Jordan concluded: “This is yet another glaring sign that our water industry is broken and in urgent need of transformational reform – polluters’ profits should never trump the public’s right to clean water.”