England gets 27 new bathing sites – but no guarantee they’ll be safe for swimming | Water

During the year, 27 new bathing places will be allocated England ahead of this summer’s swimming season, the government announced.

Giving bathing waterways status means Environment Agency must test them for contamination during the summer months, putting pressure on water companies to stop dumping sewage into them.

Twelve rivers are among the new sites. England has three river areas designated for swimming, far fewer than in many other European countries. In France, for example, there are more than 570 river bathing places.

However, bathing status is not a guarantee that the waters are safe for swimming. Last year, tests by the Environment Agency found that there were three river swimming areas in England all had “poor” condition due to contamination. This means people should not swim in them and risk getting sick if they do. Sewage spills and agricultural runoff mean swimming areas can wear E coli and intestinal enterococci, which can make swimmers sick.

Water campaigner and former Undertones singer Feargal Sharkey told the Guardian: “Every single stretch of river in England tested at the moment carries a ‘do not swim’ advice. This batch will just join that ignoble, rumbling list of failures.

“This is clearly not a strategy to deal with the deteriorating state of our rivers, it is simply panic from a crumbling government making excuses before exiting the remaining stage in the run up to the general election.”

Water companies have been criticized for record discharges of sewage into England’s waterways last year. The latest figures show that raw sewage was discharged into rivers and seas for more than 3.6 million hours, more than double the previous 12 months.

The bathing spots are only tested in the summer months, but the government has promised a consultation later this year on proposals that include extending monitoring outside the bathing season, as some people use the rivers for recreation all year round.

Water Minister Robbie Moore said: “The value our bathing waters bring to local communities is incredibly valuable – providing social, physical and positive health and wellbeing benefits for people across the country – and I’m delighted that I have approved another 27 new bathing waters for this year.

“These popular swimming spots will now be regularly monitored to ensure bathers have up-to-date information on water quality and to enable action to be taken if minimum standards are not met.”

Environment Agency chairman Alan Lovell said: “The importance of England’s bathing waters to residents and visitors alike cannot be overstated, which is why the Environment Agency provides rigorous testing to ensure that bathers can to make informed decisions before swimming at one of our 451 sites.

“Bathing water quality has generally improved significantly over the last decade thanks to targeted and strict regulation by the Environment Agency and the good work done by partners and local groups. Last year, 96% of sites met the minimum standards, up from just 76% in 2010 – and despite tougher standards introduced in 2015. We know that improvements can take time and investment from the water industry, farmers and local communities, but when the investment is made, standards can improve.’

The new bathing places

• River Wharfe at Wetherby Riverside, High St, Wetherby, West Yorkshire