England and Wales have approved the first major refresh of bathing water rules since 2013, laying the Bathing Water (Amendment) (England and Wales) Regulations 2025 before the UK Parliament and Senedd Cymru on 28 October 2025. Welsh ministers described the step as a modern, locally attuned approach to protecting popular swimming spots. In England, most provisions take effect from 21 November 2025, with some measures starting on 15 May 2026; in Wales, commencement is scheduled for 1 April 2026.

The reforms change how new bathing waters are designated. Ministers must consult regulators and local authorities and may refuse a listing where achieving at least a “sufficient” classification is infeasible or disproportionately expensive, or where large numbers of bathers would significantly undermine environmental protection measures at or near the site. Listings can also be declined if there is a likely risk to physical safety. The regulations define “environmental protection measures” broadly to include actions that protect, restore or enhance nature, and to monitor or report on those actions.

The bathing season no longer has to be one-size-fits-all. While 15 May to 30 September remains the default, ministers can now set different seasons for different waters and revoke those determinations before the next season begins. Public information on classifications and seasons must be actively shared before 15 May each year, or before any earlier, site-specific start date. Defra signalled this shift toward flexible seasons when it set out the reform package earlier in the year.

The automatic rule that stripped bathing status after five consecutive years of a “poor” classification has been replaced. Regulators must advise ministers on whether improvement to at least “sufficient” is feasible and not disproportionately expensive within a specified period of up to five years. Ministers can allow that improvement window; if it is infeasible, rejected, or fails to deliver, bathing status can still be removed and permanent advice against bathing issued. This aligns with the consultation outcome published in March 2025.

Sampling rules are tightened around pollution events without adding red tape for routine monitoring. After short‑term pollution, regulators may take an extra sample to confirm conditions have improved and may disregard polluted samples from the dataset, provided minimum seasonal sample numbers are still met-taking additional samples where needed. Following any abnormal situation, regulators can temporarily suspend the monitoring calendar and then catch up to ensure minimum coverage. Contact details posted during incidents will now point to the relevant agency rather than a named individual, and field protocols for clearly labelling and linking samples to documentation are strengthened.

Annual transparency is reinforced. After the end of each bathing season, ministers must publish a report on that year’s season(s). Information on classifications and seasons must be actively disseminated online and in appropriate languages-by 15 May or before the start of any earlier site‑specific season-to help people make informed choices about where and when to swim. Defra has previously emphasised more open access to water quality information for the public.

The technical backbone also gets attention. A small but important correction adjusts the statistical constant used to calculate the 95th percentile from 1.65 to 1.645-bringing the method into line with standard z‑scores. Classifications continue to be based on E. coli and intestinal enterococci thresholds under the retained EU Bathing Water Directive 2006/7/EC, which uses 95th and 90th percentile values to set “excellent”, “good” and “sufficient” standards.

Context matters: the Environment Agency’s latest figures showed 91.8% of England’s 450 designated sites met at least the minimum standard in 2024, with 289 rated “excellent” and 37 rated “poor”. Government data also confirm the share meeting minimum standards has dipped since 2022 and that the proportion rated “excellent” fell to 64.2% in 2024. These trends underscore why consistent monitoring and targeted investment remain essential.

Public health remains the driver. WHO guidance links higher concentrations of faecal indicator bacteria to increased risk of gastrointestinal illness and supports percentile‑based assessment and timely, clear advice to water users. Using additional verification sampling after short‑term pollution and improving incident communications both align with that approach.

Campaigners welcome tougher monitoring but warn that a feasibility test at the designation stage could exclude polluted river stretches from gaining bathing status-and the scrutiny that comes with it. Ministers argue the test targets effort where improvement is realistic and protects sensitive habitats from overcrowding. The debate will continue as guidance is finalised ahead of the 2026 season.

For councils and catchment partners, the signal is clear: gather accurate bather‑use evidence early, plan site‑specific seasons where appropriate, and align improvement plans with storm‑overflow and agricultural runoff projects. In England, Defra has already reopened applications using the updated standards; prospective sites for the 2026 season were invited to compile evidence during 2025.

For swimmers and paddlers, the practical steps are familiar but strengthened by the reforms: check on‑site signage, review the Environment Agency’s Swimfo classifications before entering the water, and pay attention to pollution alerts-community reports via groups such as Surfers Against Sewage have highlighted illness trends that support official monitoring.

What to watch next: updated designation guidance from Defra and the Welsh Government; how regulators apply the feasibility test to inland sites; and whether the new sampling flexibilities reduce uncertainty around pollution incidents. With commencement dates set across late 2025 and early 2026, communities should see clearer information and more responsive management ahead of next summer.