Environment Agency:  26.3.15 Water quality information at swimming beaches and lakes   At popular swimming beaches and lakes local councils must display information on the cleanliness of the water – and any faecal pollution.   Councils only provide information at ‘designated bathing waters’. These are areas:

• where the Environment agency (EA) expects lots of people to swim or paddle in the water
• where the EA tests the water every year
• that are listed in the Bathing Water Regulations

Councils must provide information during the bathing season, which runs from 15 May to 30 September. Councils can put up a dedicated sign or use an existing sign. For more information see:

http://archive.defra.gov.uk/environment/quality/water/waterquality/bathing/documents/bathing-water-controllers.pdf