Concerns over Bathing Water reforms as season starts

As the official Bathing Water season begins on 15th May in England and Wales, we're raising serious concerns about UK and Welsh Government plans to reform Bathing Water Regulations. Without changes, these reforms could threaten public health, reduce the number of newly designated bathing sites and fail to address current concerns over sampling.

Issues with the water quality assessments

In England, our research has revealed that 103 water samples were excluded from water quality assessments during the 2024 Bathing Season. These samples, taken during short-term pollution events or ‘abnormal situations’, are currently permitted to be removed from final classifications under existing rules in England. Whilst water users at the time are informed of the pollution, it means that samples with some of the highest levels of pollution are being ignored in categorising Bathing Waters as ‘Excellent’, ‘Good’, ‘Sufficient’ or ‘Poor’. This practice could mask the true level of pollution, risking the health of swimmers and other water users.

The UK and Welsh Governments consulted on a number of reforms to the Bathing Season in England and Wales late last year. Whilst we welcome some of the reforms, such as plans to explore expanding the definition of a ‘bather’ to include all water users (including surfers, kayakers and paddlers), there is concern that the response from UK and Welsh Governments fails to address key risks, including sampling.

What we're calling for

We're calling for any site that is well-used recreationally to be designated as a Bathing Water, and sampling practices reviewed as soon as possible. Timeframes must also be set for delivery of wider reforms, to ensure that all water users are protected, not just swimmers.

In March, the UK and Welsh governments published their response, confirming that subject to parliamentary and Senedd approval, they each intend to proceed with all of the reforms outlined in the consultation. They will also begin policy development and research, to determine how best to implement the two proposed two wider reforms in the future.

Two reforms need to be addressed

We're concerned about two reforms:

• Core Reform 2, which introduces a feasibility test to improve water quality to at least ‘sufficient’ before new Bathing Water designations are approved.
• Core Reform 3, which proposes removing fixed Bathing Season dates from regulations

We want to see clearer guidance on how Core Reform 2 would work before it is approved. The feasibility test could mean that if a potential Bathing Water is seen as too polluted, or too expensive to fix, it would not be designated at all. There would be no further water quality monitoring, or investment to improve water quality leaving water users health at risk.

With regards to Reform 3, the Marine Conservation Society is calling for the current Bathing Season in England and Wales (15th May – 30th September) to be safeguarded or extended, not shortened. Whilst removing fixed dates gives the opportunity to extend the season is a positive, the existing Bathing Season must be safeguarded to avoid the reforms reducing the length of the Bathing Season and the amount of monitoring.

The current Bathing Water Regulations are based on recommendations that are now over 10 years old. Since then, public use of coastal and inland waters has dramatically increased, with people swimming, surfing, paddleboarding and many taking cold-water dips throughout the year, not just in the Bathing Season.

Here's what you can do

If you're going to the beach this summer, make sure to check for signs at Bathing Water sites which will tell you if there has been recent pollution. You can check the Bathing Water status online too:

Wales: Find a bathing water

England: Bathing water quality

And you can find the latest information on sewage discharges here:

England: National Storm Overflow Hub for England

Wales: Storm overflow map | Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water

At the Marine Conservation Society, we're campaigning for better regulations that will keep our seas clean and healthy. To receive regular updates on what we're doing, and ways that you can help, sign up to our newsletter.