Outdoor swimmers encouraged to take part in bathing water consultation

Swim England is encouraging everyone with an interest in outdoor swimming to take part in the current government consultation on bathing water regulations.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is running a public consultation to modernise the rules around designating bathing waters.

There are 451 designated sites in England but Swim England is keen to see many more added as a route to improving water quality.

It will also send out a clear message that blue spaces are places to be enjoyed for recreation and it is clear that the current regulations are out of date.

Currently, bathing water sites are officially monitored by the Environment Agency – throughout the ‘bathing season’ – for e coli and intestinal enterococci and then given either an excellent, good, sufficient or poor classification on the basis of water quality. 

If a site is classed as poor for five years, it is automatically removed from the list of bathing waters and is no longer monitored for water quality.

Bathing water reforms being considered include potentially removing ‘fixed season’ dates from regulations, introducing multiple testing points at bathing water sites and considering recognising other recreational users in the required 100 “bathers” in future applications for bathing water designation.

Important opportunity

It is set to be the first big shake up of bathing water reforms since 2013 and closes on 23 December.

Philip Brownlie, head of public affairs at Swim England, said: “Millions of people take part in outdoor swimming each year in England – recognising the huge benefits it has for both their physical and mental health.

“Access to clean, healthy, nature-rich blue spaces is crucial to the continued growth and success of outdoor swimming.

“We are a water sports nation. However, as a result of the sewage scandal, the public have become increasingly fearful of getting sick, doing the activity they love.

“This consultation offers an opportunity for the Government to bring the bathing water process up to date to better reflect how people use our waterways for recreation and is an important opportunity for the voices of recreational users to be heard.

“We encourage as many people to feed into the process as possible.”

Swim England has made its own submission to the Government and has also produced a template with some suggested responses to the consultation that can be download by clicking here.

Simply add your details to first section and personalise it further before emailing to [email protected].