21 Jul 2026
Photo Credit: AdobeStock Southern Water has been fined £7,127,083 at Canterbury Crown Court for a series of illegal sewage discharges from pumping stations at Margate and Broadstairs between 2019 and 2021 that led Thanet District Council to close beaches at the height of successive summers. The company pleaded guilty earlier this year to 13 […]
21 May 2026
Image description: a person emerging from a pool of water, with their back to the camera. Photo by Chris on Unsplash A landmark moment for river swimming The first designated bathing water area on the River Thames in London has officially opened for the bathing season, as one of 13 new monitored swimming sites […]
21 Nov 2024
Defra has outlined £50 million investment for internal drainage boards and set out plans to consult on a new strategic vision for floods investment. Recognising the significant impact of flooding on farmers, the government says an additional £50 million will be distributed to internal drainage boards (IDBs), the public bodies responsible for managing water levels […]
14 Nov 2024
Defra has launched a consultation on proposed reforms and technical amendments to the Bathing Water Regulations 2013. Photo credit: Jens Meyers The proposals include removal of automatic de-designation after 5 years of ‘poor’ water quality changes to the designation criteria of bathing sites removing the fixed dates of the bathing season from regulations […]
09 Oct 2024
QR signage at both beaches will prompt a text conversation with the Hello Lamp Post artificial intelligence platform. The beach will share the latest news from Environment Agency monitoring about bathing water quality. But the agency hopes this will be more than a one-way conversation, with beach lovers sharing their own information about the site. […]
14 May 2024
Defra has announced that a total of 27 new wild swimming spots in England are being designated as bathing waters ahead of the summer and will immediately benefit from regular water quality monitoring. Following a public consultation, the new bathing water sites will be designated ahead of the 2024 bathing water season, which runs between […]
14 May 2024
A record number of swimming spots in England have been designated as bathing sites, the UK government has confirmed. There has been widespread coverage, including in BBC, ITV, The Guardian, Independent and Sky, of the government’s announcement that 27 new bathing water sites will be designated across England. The decision follows a public consultation last year. The Environment Agency […]
05 Jul 2023
The government has updated its guidance for applying for bathing water designation in England. The guidance on applying to de-designate existing bathing waters has also been updated. The updates mean that the application process is now easier to follow and ensures the criteria for designation are clearly set out. Defra will use the updated guidance to […]
