Governments confirm bathing water regulations revamp

Defra and the Welsh Government have confirmed plans to modernise the Bathing Water Regulations 2013.

The changes will include:

• Removal of fixed bathing water season dates (which currently run from May to September) from the regulations to allow for a more flexible approach to monitoring.

• Expanding the legal definition of ‘bathers’ to include participants in water sports other than swimming, including paddle boarders and surfers.

• Further considering a site’s feasibility to improve, public safety and environmental issues when applications for new bathing waters are assessed.

• Introducing multiple testing points at bathing water sites.

• Ending the automatic de-designation of bathing water status after five consecutive years of a site being rated ‘poor’. Instead, underperforming sites will be individually reviewed by regulators, taking into account the unique circumstances in each place. 

The governments will formally update the regulations in their respective areas this autumn.

Defra also confirmed applications for new bathing waters in England will re-open in May, the start of the 2025 bathing water season. Prospective sites will be assessed against the reformed standards. Guidance for applicants will be published in May. Applications for the 2026 season will close on 31 October 2025.