A recent report reveals that 13% of England’s beaches are deemed contaminated, with one in 14 so polluted that swimming is not advised. Notable beaches like Bognor Regis and Scarborough’s South Bay received a ‘poor’ rating from the Environment Agency. Although 87% of the 449 monitored bathing facilities met ‘good’ or ‘satisfactory’ standards in 2024—an improvement from the previous year—last summer saw a record 8.2% of areas classified as poor due to pollution from agricultural runoff and sewage.
Water activist Feargal Sharkey criticized the Environment Agency for blaming wildlife like seagulls for pollution instead of holding water companies accountable. The government is considering stricter criteria for designating new bathing waters, potentially limiting recognition for rivers that are in poor health due to ongoing pollution issues. Although the UK follows EU frameworks for water quality, UK swimming sites are now five times more likely to be polluted than those in the EU.
While overall water quality has improved, Environment Agency leader Alan Lovell acknowledged the ongoing challenges, emphasizing the need for continued collaboration to address pollution. Water Minister Emma Hardy highlighted the importance of these waters to community wellbeing.
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