Overview
- The government confirmed 13 new designated bathing sites on Friday as the season opened, with Ham and Kingston becoming the first approved spot on the River Thames in London.
- Designation requires the Environment Agency to take weekly samples from May 15 to September 30 and publish results online, which can guide fixes and unlock targeted investment.
- Many inland sites still fail basic standards, with The Independent reporting 12 of 14 designated river spots were rated poor last year and posted signs advising people not to swim.
- Surfers Against Sewage says new rules like a one‑day count of 100 swimmers and a feasibility test shut out polluted but well‑used rivers, and the group has launched a judicial review.
- Water companies warn that designating areas before they are clean could mislead swimmers, while regulators plan more than 7,000 tests this season under rules updated in November 2025.