Dear fellow swimmers
Why bathing waters matter and how to get more of them
Last week I travelled to Manchester to join the Bathing Water Forum, an event organised by
Surfers Against Sewage (SAS). SAS has been leading a campaign to support local groups achieve bathing water status for their favourite swimming spots.
In May this year, the government announced 27 new sites had been awarded bathing water status. SAS was involved in 13 of these. The government then promptly suspended new applications and announced
a review of the process!
However, all is not lost. The Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) states on its website that it expects to reopen applications in 2025 and is currently consulting on the regulations – more on that below.
After a welcome
from Giles Bristow, CEO at SAS, we heard from Nathaniel Cole, a founder of Swim Dem Crew, who reminded us how much value clean outdoor swimming spaces add to our lives. We then heard from the Manningtree Mermaids and Shropshire Bathing Waters group about the importance of designated bathing waters. Both these groups led successful campaigns to achieve bathing water status and described the positive impact their campaigns had in their local communities.
The day continued with workshops on what to do after achieving bathing water status, the power of using data to drive change, and the importance of reaching out and including diverse communities.
A key takeaway from the day for me was this. Bathing Water Status isn’t
a panacea. Achieving it won’t make the problem of sewage pollution disappear. However, it is a powerful awareness-raising tool and an important lever to apply additional pressure on water companies and the Environment Agency to clean up our waterways. Moreover, it is perhaps the most powerful direct action tool we have.
Anyone can apply for bathing
water status. Anyone can throw their weight behind a bathing water status campaign. And you don’t need to wait for DEFRA to reopen the application process to start finding out more and campaigning.
As a first step, take a look at DEFRA’s bathing waters regulations consultation and respond if you can.
Secondly, consider applying for bathing water status or supporting a campaign. SAS have a useful application toolkit on their Protecting Wild Waters website.
If you are part of a campaign group for a new bathing water, please reply to this email and let us
know.
Simon Griffiths
Founder and publisher, Outdoor Swimmer
p.s. Thank you to TRIHARD for sponsoring The Dip this week. If you would like to put your brand in front
of 35,000 swimmers, please get in touch.
