This summer we have had some excellent weather and the staycation mind set is leading to a surge in wild swimming in our rivers. For years our rivers, unlike Europe’s, seem to have been immune from this, and legislation like the Bathing Water Directive has not been applied. There are growing cases of the wild swimming trend impacting on the way regulators are having to view rivers as a wider resource e.g. The River Thames at Port Meadow, Oxford has an unconsented protest taking place that plans to have large numbers of swimmers in the water which could close the navigation.
Consultation launched on bathing water status for River Wharfe
Defra: We have launched a public consultation on designating bathing water status to an area of the River Wharfe in Ilkley. If successful, it would mean a part of the river flowing through Ilkley would be monitored regularly during the bathing season (15 May to 30 September) for bacteria detrimental to human health. The area of the River Wharfe under consideration runs between Ilkley Main Bridge and Beanlands Island. If successful, this section of the River Wharfe would become the first river bathing area to be designated as a bathing water.
Local residents in Ilkley, including farmers and swimming groups, are invited to give their views. After eight weeks the responses will be reviewed and a final decision will be made by the
Environment Secretary.
Environment Minister Rebecca Pow said:
We protect people’s health at popular swimming spots across the country by requiring the water quality at those sites to be regularly monitored. At present, 93% of bathing waters in England have ‘good’ or ‘excellent’ water quality.
I encourage local residents to take part in this consultation so we can have as many views as possible to inform our final decision.
Any surface water can be designated as a bathing water if it is used by a large number of people and meets the requirements for designation. There are currently 12 inland bathing waters in England, all on lakes.