Bathing waters, Defra 26 January 2016, see all updates
Part of:
Water, Environmental management and Marine
Information about bathing waters for bathers and local authorities.
Contents
- Information for bathers
- 2015 UK bathing water monitoring results
- Designations and de-designations of bathing waters
- Information for local authorities
- Annual reports for UK bathing water monitoring results before 2015
- Projected classifications
Bathing waters are beaches, lakes or ponds that are used by a large number of bathers and have been designated under the Bathing Water Directive. In 2015, 415 bathing waters were monitored in England, 102 in Wales, 84 in Scotland and 23 in Northern Ireland, making a total of 624 bathing waters across the UK. Of these, 608 are coastal or estuarine waters and 16 are inland freshwater sites. A total 97.1% of England’s bathing waters have met the new minimum standard and 63.6% met the very highest Excellent standard.
The bathing season is from 15 May to 30 September each year. The Environment Agency is responsible for monitoring water quality.
Bathing water quality is assessed using the 2006 Bathing Water Directive.
Standard symbols will be used at all bathing waters across the EU to represent the water quality from summer 2016.
To make a comment or complaint about a bathing water, for more information or to suggest new sites, please email: bathingwater@defra.gsi.gov.uk
If you have an enquiry about bathing water outside England, you should get in touch with one of the following:
- Scotland – the Scottish Government
- Wales – the Welsh Government
- Northern Ireland – Department for Environment Northern Ireland