Consultation on Designation of 13 Sites as Bathing Waters

The Bathing Water Regulations (S.I.2013/1675) ("the Regulations") as amended in 2025, define a bathing water as a surface water where "...the Secretary of State expects a large number of people to bathe, having regard in particular to past trends and any infrastructure or facilities provided, or other measures taken, to promote bathing at those waters." The objective of designating a beach or inland water as a bathing water is to protect bathers' health by monitoring for intestinal enterococci and E.coli in the water. The Environment Agency (EA) takes water quality samples during the bathing season, which in England runs from 15 May to 30 September. The monitoring data are used to make annual water quality classifications of Excellent, Good, Sufficient or Poor. If the water quality does not meet the standards set by the Regulations, the EA will investigate the sources of pollution to identify remedial measures that can be put in