Rethinking bathing waters
May marks the start of the ‘traditional’ bathing season, but change is coming.
The latest reforms to bathing water regulations in England and Wales arrive at a moment when public use of rivers and coastlines is rapidly evolving. Understanding the fundamental structure of water quality management, within which the regulations operate, is still lagging behind.
A gap is opening between people’s favourite water holes and those that are monitored by dint of their official designation.
The growing gap between use and protection
Campaigners argue this exposes a fundamental flaw. Waters are actively used but not given designated bathing water status, and therefore not subject to consistent water quality testing. The risk is clear. Popular sites miss out on both regular testing and the long-term pressure needed to drive improvement.
The new regulations attempt to respond. They introduce more flexible definitions of bathing waters and allow for a more targeted approach to designation and monitoring. In principle, this makes sense. The old system was rigid and often failed to reflect modern recreational use. But flexibility comes with trade-offs.
Flexibility vs fairness in designation
Designation decisions may now depend not just on usage, but on the likelihood of improvement. In practice, this means some heavily used but polluted waters may never be designated if the challenges are too complex or costly. The question is whether the system will prioritise waters that are easier to fix over those most in need of attention.
Strained resources and local pressures
At the same time, resource constraints are tightening the system. The Environment Agency, responsible for monitoring, is still operating with limited capacity relative to pre-austerity times.
Local authorities face their own pressures too. As custodians of designated sites, they carry the consequences of poor classifications, yet many are financially stretched. A failing site can quickly become a reputational and economic liability, affecting tourism, local businesses and community confidence. It is not hard to see why some may hesitate to pursue or retain designation where improvement is uncertain.
Misunderstanding what ‘designation’ means
There is also a persistent misunderstanding about what designation achieves. It is not a quick fix. Identifying pollution sources takes time, and even with investment, results are not guaranteed. Agricultural runoff, wildlife, domestic animals, weather and sewer outfalls all play a role. A wet summer can undo months of progress. Yet public debate often reduces the issue to a single cause, overlooking this complexity.
Why public trust is at risk
This matters because expectations shape trust. When designated waters fail to improve, frustration grows. When sites are not designated at all, concern turns to suspicion. In both cases, limited understanding undermines confidence.
A system that must bring people with it
The reforms are a step in the right direction. A more targeted approach reflects the scale of the challenge. But without clearer communication and stronger engagement between communities, landowners, water companies, regulators and local authorities, the system risks becoming less understood just as it becomes more complex.
If bathing water policy is to keep pace with how people use rivers and coasts, it must do more than adapt its rules. It must bring the public with it. Explaining not just what is changing, but why it matters, and how it works is essential to deliver cleaner, safer water.
Copper Consultancy’s Tom Gallagher has led stakeholder engagement and communications campaigns on bathing water issues for many years. He can offer you unique insight and help you build collaboration and successful working relationships. Contact Tom at Tom.Gallagher@copperconsultancy.com.