English bathing water quality is an “international embarrassment”

River Action says findings are an “international embarrassment”, while Water Minister says the Water Bill will place water companies under special measures

The number of monitored bathing waters in England deemed to be poor and unfit for swimming has more than doubled, rising from 18 to 37.

This summer, 450 sites were regularly tested by the Environment Agency (EA) for bacteria related to sewage discharges, with 92% reaching the minimum water quality standards — a slight drop from 96% last year. 

The EA says the figures are in part due to 27 new sites being monitored this year, of which 18 were rated poor, stating that it takes time to understand the new sites and tackle the sources of pollution, but Emma Hardy, Water Minister described the latest findings as “unacceptable”.

Without the newly designated bathing waters, 95% of sites would meet minimum standards this year.

The government’s standards for bathing waters come from guidelines produced by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The tests monitor for sources of pollution known to put bathers’ health at risk, specifically E. coli and intestinal enterococci.

Alan Lovell, EA Chair said that while overall bathing water quality has improved in recent decades, the results show there is much work still to do, particularly to bring inland bathing waters up to standard. Only 53% of inland sites met the minimum standards.

The results follow the launch in November of the government’s consultation on proposed reforms to bathing water regulations, intended to ensure a more flexible approach to designation and monitoring. This includes assessing water quality and the feasibility of improvement at a site prior to designation.

“…swimming in our inland bathing sites poses serious health risks, highlighting the failure of regulators to protect waterways from polluters.”

James Wallace, CEO, River Action described the results as “an international embarrassment”, adding that “the government’s own data shows that swimming in our inland bathing sites poses serious health risks, highlighting the failure of regulators to protect waterways from polluters. 

Hardy said that placing water companies under special measures through the Water (Special Measures) Bill, introduced to Parliament in September, will strengthen regulation, “including new powers to ban the payment of bonuses for polluting water bosses and bring criminal charges against persistent law breakers.” 

She added that the largest review of the water sector since privatisation has also been launched to attract investment and reform the water system to tackle water pollution.

A spokesperson from Water UK, which represents the UK’s water industry, added that water companies have proposed to invest £10 billion over the next five-years to end sewage entering our rivers and seas, with a 50% reduction in spills into bathing waters. “We now need the regulator Ofwat to fully approve water companies’ plans so that we can get on with it.” 

Wallace questioned if there was a mechanism for change, and said the law must be enforced and the standards for water quality increased. 

“Permits for water companies must change. All bathing sites should have an automatic change to permits requiring water companies to remove bacteria, viruses, microplastics and the many chemicals such as PFAS, antidepressants, paracetamol, hormones and recreational drugs that threaten human and wildlife health.”