Bathing Water Monitoring: Ultimately, this is not enough

EMBARGO: 00.01 12th March

Commenting after the Government announced that monitoring for swimming sites in England and Wales will be updated for the first time since 2013, Liberal Democrat Environment Spokesperson Tim Farron MP said:

“Ultimately, this is not enough. The Government must get tough on water companies and finally replace Ofwat with a new regulator with the power to actually protect our rivers and lakes for bathers. 

“British rivers and coastlines have been destroyed after successive ministers have allowed disgraced water firms to get away scot free polluting swimming spots.

“To protect our precious rivers for swimmers and wildlife, the government must also ensure introduce new Blue Flag standards to ensure families can swim safely and in the knowledge that they are not polluted with sewage.”

ENDS

Notes to Editor:

Tim Farron called for an update to bathing water regulations in a Westminister Hall debate to Sir Jon Cunliffe on 4th March https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2025-03-04/debates/A191B38D-5FC9-4F41-94CA-7A20D968E4D4/BathingWaterRegulations