Mims Davies MP supporting cleaner bathing waters in Mid Sussex and the whole of England.
Designated bathing waters are coastal or inland waters that are used by large numbers of bathers and have facilities to promote and support bathing as set out in the Bathing Water Regulations 2013.
They are an important public amenity and can be valuable assets for local communities such as in Mid Sussex.
Following an application round and a period of public consultation, Defra announced the designation of 27 new bathing waters:
- 12 rivers
- 6 estuarine sites
- 5 coastal sites
- 4 lakes.
Taking the total number in England to 451, the highest ever.
The sites will be subject to the requirements under the Bathing Water Regulations 2013 and will be included in the Environment Agency’s bathing water monitoring programme from May 2024.
Designation means the sites will be subject to regular testing by the Environment Agency throughout the bathing season, giving bathers a clearer picture on water quality for public health. The Environment Agency will also assess what action is needed to improve water quality to meet the standards set by the Bathing Water Regulations.
DEFRA are continually working to improve and modernise the bathing waters system. This is why Defra have announced plans to consult on a series of potential reforms for England to the Bathing Water Regulations 2013.
The proposed changes will drive work to improve bathing water quality, enhance monitoring, and enable more flexibility around the dates of the bathing water monitoring season – the current bathing water monitoring offer will be maintained as a minimum. These changes will allow the Government to increase monitoring outside of the bathing water season in the future, to better embed water quality improvements within processes and to prevent automatic de-designation of existing bathing water sites.
Defra will also seek public and stakeholder views on extending the definition of ‘bathers’ to include a wider range of water users, including:
- swimmers
- rowers
- kayakers
- paddle boarders
Allowing multiple monitoring points (instead of a single monitoring point) at each bathing water site.
The next bathing water application round in England will commence in Spring 2025.
Alongside these reforms, the government remains committed to improving water quality through the Plan for Water, our comprehensive strategy which sets out how we will deliver clean and plentiful water for people, businesses and nature through more investment, tighter regulation and more effective enforcement.
As part of this, DEFRA have set stringent targets for water companies to reduce the use of storm overflows through the Storm Overflows Discharge Reduction Plan – driving the largest infrastructure programme in water company history, £60 billion over 25 years. This includes frontloading action in particularly important and sensitive sites, including bathing waters: by 2035, water companies will have improved all storm overflows discharging near every designated bathing water.
Mims Davies MP said:
"Local bathing waters are a valuable asset for local communities such as Mid Sussex, with powerful public benefits for our local economies, leisure, and both mental and physical health of residents.
This is why I welcome the news the Conservative government is helping people across England by designating new bathing water sites, allowing sites to benefit from regular testing and quick action to resolve any water quality issues.
The Conservative government is sticking to its plan to make sure everyone can access the facilities to live an active and healthy lifestyle and to support local communities"
Minister for Water and Rural Growth Robbie Moore said:
“Access to local bathing sites offers fantastic benefits for communities, including health, economic, and social ones.
We know that expanding access to clean bathing sites with regular monitoring and testing can help improve the health of local communities as well as attract visitors, boosting local economies.
That is why we are sticking to our plan to expand access to safe bathing waters, helping improve the health and well-being of people across the country, and improving outdoor amenities for people across the country."
