Open consultation

Reforms to The Bathing Water Regulations 2013

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Published: 12 November 2024

Applies to England and Wales

Summary

We are seeking views on proposed reforms and technical amendments to the Bathing Water Regulations 2013.

This consultation closes at
11:59pm on 23 December 2024

Consultation description

We want to know what you think about:

• removal of automatic de-designation after 5 years of ‘poor’ water quality
• changes to the designation criteria of bathing sites
• removing the fixed dates of the bathing season from regulations

We also need your views on proposed technical amendments, as well as potential upcoming reforms on:

• the definition of ‘bathers’
• the introduction of multiple monitoring points at bathing sites

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and Welsh Government may respond differently to the outcomes of the consultation.

You can read the Welsh version of the bathing waters consultation.

Ways to respond

Respond online

Published 12 November 2024