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Bathing Water Regulations
04 March 2025
Lead MP
Gideon Amos
Taunton and Wellington
LD
Responding Minister
Emma Hardy
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Word Count: 9507
Other Contributors: 10
At a Glance
Gideon Amos raised concerns about bathing water regulations in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
Calls for flow-rate monitoring, extra stormwater storage and resources for the Environment Agency to increase enforcement. He also asks if steps have been taken to resolve discrepancies between bathing designations and water companies' investment plans.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
There are beautiful natural landscapes in the country including beaches and rivers like the River Tone, but pollution issues persist. The river has been proven to have poor water quality with recent discharges of untreated effluent being commonplace, leading residents to fear for their health when using the river.
Edward Morello
Con
West Dorset
Morello highlighted the economic benefits of clean water and tourism in West Dorset, emphasizing the importance of clean water for local communities beyond health and nature. Made a point about the economic value of maintaining clean bathing waters for tourism revenue, estimated at £4 billion annually.
Henley and Thame
Van Mierlo discussed the perversity of requiring swimmers to brave dirty waters before clean-up, advocating for a recreational water designation that considers all river users. Talked about the topsy-turvy nature of the bathing water status, which can create all sorts of perverse outcomes in his communities.
Gideon Amos
Lab/Co-op
Taunton and Wellington
Secured this debate to discuss improving bathing water quality in rivers, lakes and seas.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Proposes that there should be signs at designated bathing waters indicating the water quality to make it simpler for people using wild-water swimming and other pursuits to see if the water quality is suitable.
Joe Morris
Lab
Newcastle upon Tyne North
Emphasised the importance of maintaining public engagement in ongoing work to keep rivers clean and highlighted the need for continuous improvement to ensure water quality.
Stratford-on-Avon
Perteghella discussed pollution threats to the River Avon and advocated for stronger regulations, legally binding targets, and more transparent testing to tackle water quality issues. Highlighted the importance of protecting biodiversity in our waterways and recognising the role of citizen scientists.
Pippa Heylings
Lab
Newcastle upon Tyne East
The surge in open-water swimming due to the pandemic raised concerns about public health and ecosystem risks, especially with sewage discharges over 100,000 times in designated bathing areas. The proposed reforms might reduce designated sites and fail to ensure water quality improvements. Discussed the public health and ecological aspects of maintaining bathing water designations in her constituency. She highlights the issue of prior testing affecting bathing water designation negatively. Clarified that bathing site status is seen as a mechanism to enforce the 'polluter pays' principle and stressed that designated sites are already being used as such due to their cultural, historical, and ecological importance.
Tiverton and Minehead
In her constituency, a constituent's children fell seriously ill after swimming in a local river due to sewage discharges. She emphasised the need for stricter regulations on water companies and combined sewers.
Sarah Dyke
LD
Glastonbury and Somerton
Supports the need for more designated bathing water sites, highlighting the River Parrett which was discharged with sewage 54 times in 2023.
Tim Farron
LD
Westmorland and Lonsdale
Farron praised Amos's debate and highlighted the importance of bathing water status in improving standards for those responsible for waterways quality. Suggested placing water quality monitors to measure the impact of toxic waste on river health and proposed a way to describe when it is safe for bathing.
Government Response
Emma Hardy
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Government Response
Minister acknowledges the current broken water system and discusses ongoing efforts such as the Water (Special Measures) Act 025. She also mentions the importance of not viewing bathing water status as a golden ticket to improve all waters.
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.