Work to clean up polluted swimming spots in England and Wales has been dealt a massive blow, campaigners say. Pressure groups have been applying for ‘bathing water status’ for popular lakes and rivers. Getting the official designation means the water has to be tested, sources of pollution traced, and a plan put in place to make the water safe to swim in.
But now all applications for bathing water status have been paused until spring 2025, delaying the possibility of further sites being cleaned up. This year, were announced in the UK, including 12 river sites. They will be tested by the government’s Environment Agency between now and next spring and if the water is found to breach safe levels for E coli and intestinal enterococci then any polluters identified, including water companies and local farmers, will have a legal obligation to help eradicate the problem.
Normally groups applying for bathing water status for a new location carry out surveys and consultations during the bathing water season (from May to September), to show proof that the site is already popular with swimmers and suitable for people to use. They then submit their application in the autumn, by the end of October. But the government says applications for new sites need to stop because it’s reviewing the rules around bathing water status and how to apply for it.
No firm date has been set for when applications will reopen again, but the ban will impact those trying to get local wild swimming spots cl.
