Number of English bathing sites rated ‘poor’ doubles

There has been mounting criticism of England’s bathing water quality in recent years, as more data has become available.

River Action CEO James Wallace called the latest results an “international embarrassment”.

“The Government’s own data shows that swimming in our inland bathing sites poses serious health risks, highlighting the failure of regulators to protect waterways from polluters,” he said.

The designated bathing sites are tested between 10 and 20 times a year for bacteria that are linked to sewage discharges.

At the end each of season the Environment Agency gives them a rating which is based on their results of the previous four years.

Excellent, good or sufficient means they have met the minimum standards – while poor means they have not.

A spokesman for Water UK, which represents the water industry, said that the quality of English bathing water had improved since the 1990s but that the water companies agreed that more needed to be done to reduce sewage discharges.

The companies are currently waiting for the regulator Ofwat to approve billions of pounds of investment in infrastructure paid for by higher customer bills.