Overview
- The Environment Agency's annual bathing-water assessment published in early August 2026 found 32 officially designated sites in England were rated 'poor', meaning they did not meet current minimum water-quality standards.
- The poor-rated locations include a mix of inland rivers and lakes and some coastal spots, with named sites such as Sheep's Green on the River Cam, Blackpool North, Derwent Water (Crow Park) and several rivers in Yorkshire.
- Health guidance from the EA and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is clear that bathing is not advised at 'poor' sites because water quality may pose infection risks to swimmers.
- The agency and regional reporting point to recurring causes for poor scores, including sewage discharges, agricultural and urban runoff, and episodic pollution events, with some sites like Blackpool North repeatedly failing in consecutive years.
- Most designated sites remain safe for swimmers — 66% were rated Excellent and 21% Good — but seasonal heat and rising demand for open-water bathing mean local maps and the EA’s updates are important for public safety.