Bathing Waters in England 2024 Compliance Report

Product Description

These results summarise the compliance with the 2013 bathing water regulations of coastal and inland bathing waters for England in 2024.

For every designated bathing water in England, the Environment Agency monitors Escherichia coli and intestinal enterococci in the water, throughout the bathing season (May to September). Values can vary; depending on the weather, pollution from agricultural and urban sources, storm water overflows, amongst other factors. The readings taken over the last four bathing seasons then determine the annual classification for that water.

The 2024 classification results cover the period from 2021 to 2024; over a four-year period. Prior to the start of the 2024 season, no bathing waters were de-designated, but an additional 27 waters were designated at the start of the season. This brings the total number of designated bathing waters in England to 451. There was one bathing water unassessed due to access issues. Newly designated bathing waters are assessed with one season’s samples which increases to two season’s samples the following year.

This year’s increase of 27 new designations at locations not previously managed to achieve bathing water standards needs to be considered when comparing 2024 and 2023 classifications.

The classifications are:

• Excellent – the highest, cleanest class
• Good – generally good water quality
• Sufficient – the water quality meets the minimum standard
• Poor – the water quality has not met the minimum standard.

Due to Coronavirus restrictions, there was no classification during the 2020 bathing water season.