Children playing in river on a sunny summer day (Image: Getty)
Swimmers will see more flexible seasons for cold water swimming as part of the UK and Welsh Governments’ reforms to bathing rules.
The reforms include an end to fixed bathing season dates – from May to September – when water quality is monitored by regulators to inform and protect swimmers.
More flexible dates for monitoring will better reflect when people are using bathing waters throughout the year, the Government said.
Erica Popplewell, River Action’s head of communities, said: “Finally, this Government has made some meaningful changes to outdated legislation that will see the removal of the fixed bathing season so that all water users—not just swimmers—can have confidence that water quality will be monitored year-round.
“However, the reality is stark: England has only 18 designated river bathing sites compared with 573 in France. Despite increased monitoring, water users could be put at risk due to dangerously high levels of bacteria like E. coli and the continued discharge of sewage by water companies.
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“The time for words is over—we need urgent action. The Government should now build on this first positive step to stop water companies from polluting for profit.”
The system for monitoring the more than 550 designated, outdoor, swimming sites in England and Wales will be updated for the first time since 2013 following a public consultation.
Ministers will also expand the legal definition of “bather” to include those taking part in water sports, such as paddle boarders and surfers.
Wild swimming has surged in popularity across the UK in recent years but the rises in sewage discharges and pollution have also made many blue spaces unsafe.
Water minister Emma Hardy said: “Bathing water sites are the pride of local communities across the country.
“But safety and cleanliness is paramount, and we must go further and faster to open up our waterways for families to enjoy.
“The Government is upgrading outdated regulations so they are fit for purpose.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.”
Under the plans, ministers will also look at introducing multiple monitoring points at each bathing water location.
And the Government will further consider a site’s feasibility to improve in terms of public safety and environment when assessing applications for new bathing waters.
Liberal Democrat Environment Spokesperson Tim Farron MP said: “Ultimately, this is not enough. The Government must get tough on water companies and finally replace Ofwat with a new regulator with the power to actually protect our rivers and lakes for bathers.
“British rivers and coastlines have been destroyed after successive ministers have allowed disgraced water firms to get away scot free polluting swimming spots.
“To protect our precious rivers for swimmers and wildlife, the government must also introduce new Blue Flag standards to ensure families can swim safely and in the knowledge that they are not polluted with sewage.”
Campaigners said a reform stating the need for a “feasibility test” will mean that popular swimming and surfing spots in England and Wales deemed too polluted, will not receive bathing water status, and miss out on investment to clean up the water quality.
Dani Jordan, director of campaigns and communities at Surfers Against Sewage said: “After promising the moon, the government is set to deliver a damp squib on reforming bathing water regulations. The common-sense changes to the regulations are welcome, but long overdue. The proposed ‘feasibility test’ that deems some areas as 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.”
“This week the Minister for Water is touring the country proclaiming ‘things can only get cleaner,’ yet with this announcement, the government remains content for the polluters to take the money and run. 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.”