Water UK response to the Environment Agency's annual assessment of bathing water quality

A Water UK spokesperson said:

“These results show that the quality of English bathing water remains high with 85% achieving a ‘good’ or ‘excellent’ rating. This is a stark contrast to the 1990s when less than a third of bathing waters would have met today’s standards.

“However, any drop in standards is a cause for concern and we agree with the Environment Agency that further action is needed to improve bathing water quality. This year saw a record number of new bathing water designations and, while water companies are supporting communities to improve new bathing areas, it will take time and investment for real change to be seen.

“Water companies have a plan and have proposed to invest a record £10 billion over the next five-years to end sewage entering our rivers and seas, with a 50% reduction in spills into bathing waters. We now need the regulator Ofwat to fully approve water companies’ plans so that we can get on with it.”