{"id":990085,"date":"2025-12-29T14:08:44","date_gmt":"2025-12-29T14:08:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/?p=990085"},"modified":"2025-12-29T14:08:44","modified_gmt":"2025-12-29T14:08:44","slug":"majority-of-uk-bathing-waters-now-meet-standards-for-safe-swimming","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/majority-of-uk-bathing-waters-now-meet-standards-for-safe-swimming\/","title":{"rendered":"Majority of UK bathing waters now meet standards for safe swimming"},"content":{"rendered":"<ul>\n<li><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_73 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/majority-of-uk-bathing-waters-now-meet-standards-for-safe-swimming\/#Official_2025_Results_%E2%80%94_Most_Waters_Safe\" title=\"Official 2025 Results \u2014 Most Waters Safe\">Official 2025 Results \u2014 Most Waters Safe<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/majority-of-uk-bathing-waters-now-meet-standards-for-safe-swimming\/#Why_This_Matters\" title=\"Why This Matters\">Why This Matters<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/majority-of-uk-bathing-waters-now-meet-standards-for-safe-swimming\/#What_%E2%80%9CSafe%E2%80%9D_Means\" title=\"What \u201cSafe\u201d Means\">What \u201cSafe\u201d Means<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/majority-of-uk-bathing-waters-now-meet-standards-for-safe-swimming\/#Success_Stories\" title=\"Success Stories\">Success Stories<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/majority-of-uk-bathing-waters-now-meet-standards-for-safe-swimming\/#Government_View_Reforms\" title=\"Government View &amp; Reforms\">Government View &amp; Reforms<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/majority-of-uk-bathing-waters-now-meet-standards-for-safe-swimming\/#Caveats_Criticisms\" title=\"Caveats &amp; Criticisms\">Caveats &amp; Criticisms<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/majority-of-uk-bathing-waters-now-meet-standards-for-safe-swimming\/#_Inland_Rivers\" title=\"\u00a0Inland Rivers\">\u00a0Inland Rivers<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/majority-of-uk-bathing-waters-now-meet-standards-for-safe-swimming\/#_Broader_Water_Quality_Concerns\" title=\"\u00a0Broader Water Quality Concerns\">\u00a0Broader Water Quality Concerns<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/majority-of-uk-bathing-waters-now-meet-standards-for-safe-swimming\/#What_This_Means_for_Swimmers\" title=\"What This Means for Swimmers\">What This Means for Swimmers<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/majority-of-uk-bathing-waters-now-meet-standards-for-safe-swimming\/#Official_Results_National_Trends_2025\" title=\"Official Results &amp; National Trends (2025)\">Official Results &amp; National Trends (2025)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/majority-of-uk-bathing-waters-now-meet-standards-for-safe-swimming\/#Case_Studies_%E2%80%94_Local_and_Regional_Examples\" title=\"Case Studies \u2014 Local and Regional Examples\">Case Studies \u2014 Local and Regional Examples<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/majority-of-uk-bathing-waters-now-meet-standards-for-safe-swimming\/#Improved_Beaches_Across_England\" title=\"Improved Beaches Across England\">Improved Beaches Across England<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/majority-of-uk-bathing-waters-now-meet-standards-for-safe-swimming\/#Inland_Waters_Still_Challenged\" title=\"Inland Waters Still Challenged\">Inland Waters Still Challenged<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/majority-of-uk-bathing-waters-now-meet-standards-for-safe-swimming\/#Sites_Rated_Poor_%E2%80%94_What_That_Looks_Like\" title=\"Sites Rated Poor \u2014 What That Looks Like\">Sites Rated Poor \u2014 What That Looks Like<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/majority-of-uk-bathing-waters-now-meet-standards-for-safe-swimming\/#Comments_Perspectives\" title=\"Comments &amp; Perspectives\">Comments &amp; Perspectives<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/majority-of-uk-bathing-waters-now-meet-standards-for-safe-swimming\/#Government_and_Agency_View\" title=\"Government and Agency View\">Government and Agency View<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/majority-of-uk-bathing-waters-now-meet-standards-for-safe-swimming\/#Public_Community_Reactions\" title=\"Public &amp; Community Reactions\">Public &amp; Community Reactions<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/majority-of-uk-bathing-waters-now-meet-standards-for-safe-swimming\/#What_This_Means_for_Swimmers-2\" title=\"What This Means for Swimmers\">What This Means for Swimmers<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Official_2025_Results_%E2%80%94_Most_Waters_Safe\"><\/span><strong>Official 2025 Results \u2014 Most Waters Safe<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The UK\u2019s Environment Agency has published the latest <strong>2025 bathing water classifications<\/strong> (mainly for England):<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Out of <strong>about 449 designated bathing waters<\/strong>, <strong>417 (\u224892.6 %) met at least the <em>minimum<\/em> standard required for safe swimming<\/strong>. (<a title=\"Bathing water quality statistics - GOV.UK\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/statistics\/bathing-water-quality-statistics?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">GOV.UK<\/a>)<\/li>\n<li><strong>297 sites (\u224866 %) achieved the highest \u201cExcellent\u201d quality<\/strong>. (<a title=\"Bathing water quality statistics - GOV.UK\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/statistics\/bathing-water-quality-statistics?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">GOV.UK<\/a>)<\/li>\n<li><strong>87 % of sites were rated \u2018Excellent\u2019 or \u2018Good\u2019<\/strong>, an improvement on the previous year. (<a title=\"87% of bathing waters rated \u2018Excellent\u2019 or \u2018Good\u2019 as new reforms come into law\" href=\"https:\/\/www.countryside-jobs.com\/article\/87-of-bathing-waters-rated-excellent-or-good-as-new-reforms-come-into-law?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Countryside Jobs Service<\/a>)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Only about 7 % (\u224832 sites) were classified as \u201cPoor\u201d<\/strong>, down slightly from last year\u2019s 37. (<a title=\"87% of bathing waters rated \u2018Excellent\u2019 or \u2018Good\u2019 as new reforms come into law\" href=\"https:\/\/www.countryside-jobs.com\/article\/87-of-bathing-waters-rated-excellent-or-good-as-new-reforms-come-into-law?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Countryside Jobs Service<\/a>)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>These classifications are based on regular testing for key bacterial indicators (like <strong>E. coli<\/strong> and <strong>intestinal enterococci<\/strong>) that affect human health. (<a title=\"Bathing water quality statistics - GOV.UK\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/statistics\/bathing-water-quality-statistics?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">GOV.UK<\/a>)<\/p>\n<p><strong>Bottom line:<\/strong> <em>A clear majority of designated bathing waters now meet safe swimming standards<\/em>, with more \u201cexcellent\u201d and \u201cgood\u201d rated sites than in 2024.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_This_Matters\"><\/span><strong>Why This Matters<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_%E2%80%9CSafe%E2%80%9D_Means\"><\/span><strong>What \u201cSafe\u201d Means<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Designated bathing waters are routinely tested throughout the <strong>bathing season (mid-May to end of September)<\/strong> to make sure they\u2019re free from harmful bacterial contamination at levels that could make swimmers ill. (<a title=\"FACTSHEET\nCUTTING THROUGH \nCONFUSION ON:\nBATHING\" href=\"https:\/\/www.water.org.uk\/sites\/default\/files\/2023-05\/Factsheet_BathingWatersNEW.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Water UK<\/a>)<\/p>\n<p>Standards are:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Excellent<\/strong> \u2013 highest standard of cleanliness<\/li>\n<li><strong>Good<\/strong> \u2013 generally safe for bathing<\/li>\n<li><strong>Sufficient<\/strong> \u2013 meets minimum legal requirement<\/li>\n<li><strong>Poor<\/strong> \u2013 <em>does not meet the minimum standard<\/em> and swimming is <em>not advised<\/em> at those sites. (<a title=\"Bathing water quality statistics - GOV.UK\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/statistics\/bathing-water-quality-statistics?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">GOV.UK<\/a>)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Success_Stories\"><\/span><strong>Success Stories<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><strong>Clean beaches in the West Country:<\/strong><br \/>\nCornwall and Devon were highlighted as having some of the cleanest and safest bathing waters in England\u2019s latest classifications \u2014 with almost every monitored beach meeting top standards. (<a title=\"Cornwall and Devon have some of the cleanest beaches in England\" href=\"https:\/\/hellorayo.co.uk\/hits-radio\/cornwall\/news\/cornwall-and-devon-have-some-of-the-cleanest-beaches-in-england?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Hello Rayo<\/a>)<\/p>\n<p>Local monitoring and community involvement in water quality sampling help inform swimmers and encourage local environmental action.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Government_View_Reforms\"><\/span><strong>Government View &amp; Reforms<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The UK Government has introduced <strong>reforms to how bathing water statuses are regulated<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Rules that used to strip a site\u2019s official bathing status after repeated poor ratings have been replaced with a system to <em>focus on fixing local pollution issues and keeping sites designated when appropriate<\/em>. (<a title=\"Water reforms come into law | Government Business\" href=\"https:\/\/www.governmentbusiness.co.uk\/news\/25112025\/water-reforms-come-law?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Government Business<\/a>)<\/li>\n<li>More flexible and targeted monitoring is intended to reflect how people actually use water sites. (<a title=\"Water reforms come into law | Government Business\" href=\"https:\/\/www.governmentbusiness.co.uk\/news\/25112025\/water-reforms-come-law?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Government Business<\/a>)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Environment Agency officials and water sector ministers have said these changes, along with long-term investment and regulation, are supporting <em>continued improvement in water quality<\/em>. (<a title=\"Water reforms come into law | Government Business\" href=\"https:\/\/www.governmentbusiness.co.uk\/news\/25112025\/water-reforms-come-law?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Government Business<\/a>)<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Caveats_Criticisms\"><\/span><strong>Caveats &amp; Criticisms<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>While the headlines are positive, <strong>not all UK waters are equally clean<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"_Inland_Rivers\"><\/span>\u00a0Inland Rivers<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Designated <strong>river bathing spots still lag behind beaches<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Some river spots like the <strong>River Nidd at the Lido<\/strong> have again been rated <em>poor<\/em> for bacterial contamination this year, sparking local criticism and demands for better pollution control. (<a title=\"River Nidd bathing water rated poor quality, with Yorkshire 80% rated at least sufficient | Harrogate Informer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.harrogate-news.co.uk\/2025\/11\/25\/river-nidd-bathing-water-rated-poor-quality-with-yorkshire-80-rated-at-least-sufficient\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Harrogate Informer<\/a>)<\/li>\n<li>In many cases, only a <em>small number of river sites<\/em> are rated safe, even though rivers are popular for wild swimming. Independent analyses and citizen scientist sampling have found <strong>many inland sites fail hygiene tests<\/strong> outside of official designations. (<a title=\"November 2023\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sas.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SAS-WaterQualityReport2023.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Surfers Against Sewage<\/a>)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"_Broader_Water_Quality_Concerns\"><\/span>\u00a0Broader Water Quality Concerns<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Independent reports suggest that while designated beaches often meet standards during the bathing season, <strong>overall river and inland water quality across the UK remains poor or unsafe<\/strong> for swimmers in many places \u2014 especially outside formally tested sites. (<a title=\"November 2023\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sas.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SAS-WaterQualityReport2023.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Surfers Against Sewage<\/a>)<\/p>\n<p>Environmental groups argue that:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Pollution from <strong>sewage discharges, agricultural runoff, and storm overflows<\/strong> still threatens water quality. (<a title=\"November 2023\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sas.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/SAS-WaterQualityReport2023.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Surfers Against Sewage<\/a>)<\/li>\n<li>More investment and enforcement are needed to protect both designated and non-designated waters.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_This_Means_for_Swimmers\"><\/span><strong>What This Means for Swimmers<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><strong>Most designated sea, lake and some river bathing waters in England now meet safe standards.<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>A minority \u2014 particularly some river sites and a few beaches \u2014 are still rated poor and <em>not recommended<\/em> for swimming.<\/strong>\u00a0<strong>Check local water quality updates before swimming<\/strong> \u2014 especially after rainfall or in rivers \u2014 as conditions can change quickly.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>Here\u2019s a <strong>case-study\u2013rich, commentary-focused breakdown<\/strong> of the latest news that <strong>the majority of UK bathing waters now meet standards for safe swimming<\/strong> \u2014 including <em>what the data shows<\/em>, <em>local examples<\/em>, and <em>what experts and communities are saying<\/em>:<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Official_Results_National_Trends_2025\"><\/span><strong>Official Results &amp; National Trends (2025)<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>According to the <strong>Environment Agency\u2019s 2025 classifications<\/strong> for England\u2019s designated bathing waters:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>417 out of 449 sites (\u224893 %)<\/strong> met at least the <em>minimum legal standard<\/em> for safe bathing water quality \u2014 meaning they are classed as <em>Excellent<\/em>, <em>Good<\/em>, or <em>Sufficient<\/em> under UK regulations. (<a title=\"87% of bathing waters rated \u2018Excellent\u2019 or \u2018Good\u2019 as new reforms come into law - GOV.UK\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/news\/87-of-bathing-waters-rated-excellent-or-good-as-new-reforms-come-into-law?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">GOV.UK<\/a>)<\/li>\n<li><strong>297 sites (\u224866 %)<\/strong> achieved <em>Excellent<\/em> status, while <strong>95 (\u224821 %)<\/strong> were rated <em>Good<\/em>. (<a title=\"Bathing water quality statistics - GOV.UK\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/statistics\/bathing-water-quality-statistics?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">GOV.UK<\/a>)<\/li>\n<li>Only <strong>~32 sites (\u22487 %)<\/strong> were classified as <em>Poor<\/em> and <em>not recommended<\/em> for swimming \u2014 a slight improvement on last year\u2019s figures. (<a title=\"87% of bathing waters rated \u2018Excellent\u2019 or \u2018Good\u2019 as new reforms come into law - GOV.UK\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/news\/87-of-bathing-waters-rated-excellent-or-good-as-new-reforms-come-into-law?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">GOV.UK<\/a>)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>What this means:<\/strong> A clear <strong>majority of designated bathing waters now meet standards for safe swimming<\/strong>, reflecting long-term improvements. (<a title=\"87% of bathing waters rated \u2018Excellent\u2019 or \u2018Good\u2019 as new reforms come into law - GOV.UK\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/news\/87-of-bathing-waters-rated-excellent-or-good-as-new-reforms-come-into-law?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">GOV.UK<\/a>)<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Case_Studies_%E2%80%94_Local_and_Regional_Examples\"><\/span><strong>Case Studies \u2014 Local and Regional Examples<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Improved_Beaches_Across_England\"><\/span><strong>Improved Beaches Across England<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Many <strong>coastal bathing waters<\/strong> \u2014 the most common type of designated site \u2014 are among those rated Good or Excellent. These improvements reflect decades of monitoring, regulation and investment by the Environment Agency and partners. (<a title=\"Small improvement in quality of bathing waters rated 'excellent\u2019 or \u2018good\u2019 | ITV News\" href=\"https:\/\/www.itv.com\/news\/2025-11-25\/small-improvement-in-quality-of-bathing-waters-rated-excellent-or-good?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">ITVX<\/a>)<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>South-West England (Devon &amp; Cornwall)<\/strong> has shown especially strong performance in recent years, with nearly all monitored beaches meeting minimum standards and many rated excellent, helping boost tourism and local confidence in water quality. (<a title=\"Bathing water hits minimum standard for 98% of Devon and Cornwall - GOV.UK\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/news\/bathing-water-hits-minimum-standard-for-98-of-devon-and-cornwall?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">GOV.UK<\/a>)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Inland_Waters_Still_Challenged\"><\/span><strong>Inland Waters Still Challenged<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Rivers and lakes<\/strong> (which have far fewer designated bathing sites) continue to lag behind coastal waters in quality. Some inland spots attract criticism because they either fail to meet standards \u2014 or aren\u2019t even monitored \u2014 despite growing popularity for wild swimming. (<a title=\"England has just two clean river bathing spots - despite calls for 100 by 2030\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/\/r\/environment\/comments\/1p6gqwb\/england_has_just_two_clean_river_bathing_spots\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Reddit<\/a>)<\/li>\n<li>Community campaigning groups point out that many river swim spots <em>outside official designations<\/em> are not covered by routine testing, meaning water quality risks can go unreported. (<a title=\"England has just two clean river bathing spots - despite calls for 100 by 2030\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/\/r\/environment\/comments\/1p6gqwb\/england_has_just_two_clean_river_bathing_spots\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Reddit<\/a>)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Sites_Rated_Poor_%E2%80%94_What_That_Looks_Like\"><\/span><strong>Sites Rated Poor \u2014 What That Looks Like<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Some well-known beaches, such as <strong>Scarborough\u2019s South Bay or Bognor Regis<\/strong>, have been <em>classified as poor<\/em> in the latest results, meaning swimming is <em>not recommended<\/em> there due to bacterial levels. (<a title=\"One in seven English bathing spots rated as polluted in latest testing | Pollution | The Guardian\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/environment\/2025\/nov\/25\/one-in-seven-english-bathing-spots-rated-as-polluted-in-latest-testing?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">The Guardian<\/a>)<\/li>\n<li>These local setbacks are often linked to specific pollution pressures \u2014 like sewage discharges or agricultural runoff \u2014 reminding us that progress is <em>uneven<\/em>. (<a title=\"One in seven English bathing spots rated as polluted in latest testing | Pollution | The Guardian\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/environment\/2025\/nov\/25\/one-in-seven-english-bathing-spots-rated-as-polluted-in-latest-testing?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">The Guardian<\/a>)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Comments_Perspectives\"><\/span><strong>Comments &amp; Perspectives<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Government_and_Agency_View\"><\/span><strong>Government and Agency View<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Alan Lovell, Chair of the Environment Agency<\/strong> \u2014 water quality has <em>improved significantly over recent decades<\/em> thanks to stronger regulation, ongoing investment and partnerships with local authorities, farmers and water companies. (<a title=\"87% of bathing waters rated \u2018Excellent\u2019 or \u2018Good\u2019 as new reforms come into law - GOV.UK\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/news\/87-of-bathing-waters-rated-excellent-or-good-as-new-reforms-come-into-law?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">GOV.UK<\/a>)<\/p>\n<p><strong>Water Minister Emma Hardy<\/strong> \u2014 emphasised that reforms to bathing water designation and monitoring aim to better reflect how people actually use waters, supporting safer recreation and environmental protection. (<a title=\"87% of bathing waters rated \u2018Excellent\u2019 or \u2018Good\u2019 as new reforms come into law - GOV.UK\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/news\/87-of-bathing-waters-rated-excellent-or-good-as-new-reforms-come-into-law?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">GOV.UK<\/a>)<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Public_Community_Reactions\"><\/span><strong>Public &amp; Community Reactions<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Positive feedback<\/strong> often highlights that most beaches are now safe to swim at and that long-term government and agency efforts are paying off. (<a title=\"87% of bathing waters in England rated \u2018Excellent\u2019 or \u2018Good\u2019 as new reforms come into law\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/\/r\/GoodNewsUK\/comments\/1p6mt0x\/87_of_bathing_waters_in_england_rated_excellent\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Reddit<\/a>)<\/p>\n<p><strong>Criticism from swimmers and environmental advocates<\/strong> includes:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><em>Concerns that some river sites still show poor water quality<\/em>, underscoring a gap between coastal progress and inland water health. (<a title=\"England has just two clean river bathing spots - despite calls for 100 by 2030\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/\/r\/environment\/comments\/1p6gqwb\/england_has_just_two_clean_river_bathing_spots\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Reddit<\/a>)<\/li>\n<li><em>Debates over sampling methods and designation boundaries<\/em>, with some arguing that testing doesn\u2019t always reflect where people actually swim. (<a title=\"87% of bathing waters in England rated \u2018Excellent\u2019 or \u2018Good\u2019 as new reforms come into law\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/\/r\/GoodNewsUK\/comments\/1p6mt0x\/87_of_bathing_waters_in_england_rated_excellent\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Reddit<\/a>)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_This_Means_for_Swimmers-2\"><\/span><strong>What This Means for Swimmers<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><strong>Safe swimming is more widespread than in past decades<\/strong>, especially at popular coastal sites \u2014 a major public health and leisure win. (<a title=\"87% of bathing waters rated \u2018Excellent\u2019 or \u2018Good\u2019 as new reforms come into law - GOV.UK\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/news\/87-of-bathing-waters-rated-excellent-or-good-as-new-reforms-come-into-law?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">GOV.UK<\/a>)<\/p>\n<p>However:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Not all waters are equal<\/strong> \u2014 a minority of sites still fail standards and are <em>not recommended<\/em> for bathing. (<a title=\"Bathing water quality statistics - GOV.UK\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/statistics\/bathing-water-quality-statistics?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">GOV.UK<\/a>)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Rivers and lesser-visited lakes<\/strong>, which are increasingly popular for wild swimming, often lack consistent monitoring, meaning swimmers should take added care. (<a title=\"England has just two clean river bathing spots - despite calls for 100 by 2030\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/\/r\/environment\/comments\/1p6gqwb\/england_has_just_two_clean_river_bathing_spots\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Reddit<\/a>)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Tips before you swim:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Check up-to-date information via official Environment Agency tools like <em>Swimfo<\/em> before swimming. (<a title=\"87% of bathing waters rated \u2018Excellent\u2019 or \u2018Good\u2019 as new reforms come into law - GOV.UK\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/news\/87-of-bathing-waters-rated-excellent-or-good-as-new-reforms-come-into-law?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">GOV.UK<\/a>)<\/li>\n<li>Be cautious after heavy rain, which can flush pollutants into waters even where classifications are usually good.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Official 2025 Results \u2014 Most Waters Safe The UK\u2019s Environment Agency has published the latest 2025 bathing water classifications (mainly for England): Out of about&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10,6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-990085","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-gb-news","category-uk-news"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v24.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Majority of UK bathing waters now meet standards for safe swimming - UK News &amp; 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