Source · Select Committees · Environmental Audit Committee
Recommendation 10
10
Acknowledged
Paragraph: 69
We recommend that the Government actively encourage the designation of at least one widely used...
Recommendation
We recommend that the Government actively encourage the designation of at least one widely used stretch of river for bathing in each water company area by 2025 at the latest. In their Business Plans for Ofwat’s Price Review 24, each water and sewerage company should set out how they intend to work with stakeholders to support further applications for the designation of river bathing waters in their area, and to continue the process in subsequent Price Reviews.
Government response summary AI-generated
The government agrees that designating river bathing waters to protect public health is important and complements ecological status, but highlights the distinction between public health measures and those that improve ecological health. It does not commit to actively encouraging specific designations or requiring water companies to outline plans.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Paragraph Reference:
69
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government · verbatim extract
Acknowledged
Anyone, including water companies, can apply for a new bathing water designation and the Government then considers those applications. We encourage applications for new bathing water designations annually and are actively exploring ways to make the application process more accessible to build on this. To be eligible for designation, a bathing water must meet the criteria set for designation in the Bathing Water Regulations 2013, primarily that sites must have a large number of bathers and that bathing is promoted through adequate infrastructure and facilities. Local stakeholders are best placed to know which popular bathing areas may be suitable for designation. In 2021 two water companies, Severn Trent and South West Water, successfully applied to the Green Recovery Fund to undertake improvements across their network in order to create bathing water quality stretches of river in their areas. To make it easier for water community groups to understand the criteria for bathing water status and ensure only necessary information is requested, this year the Government will revise its existing guidance on how to make an application for a new bathing water designation.
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