The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has published the 2026 bathing water classifications, which show that the majority of designated bathing waters continue to meet high environmental standards. 97% of bathing waters across Scotland now meet required standards and 82% achieve Good or Excellent classifications.

An innovative solution by Yorkshire Water and partners that uses AI models to provide continuous river water quality monitoring at multiple inland bathing water sites has been awarded £1.93 million in Ofwat’s Water Breakthrough Challenge competition.

Ahead of the 2024 bathing season, 27 new bathing water sites in England have been designated in the government’s largest ever rollout.

The bathing water season has started this week, with regular testing of water quality from the Environment Agency now underway at designated bathing sites.

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and the Environment Agency have announced that four swimming spots in England are being considered to become designated bathing water sites and benefit from regular water quality monitoring from this spring.

The government has published supplementary guidance for water companies on drainage and wastewater management plans for storm overflows.

The Scottish Government has awarded Aqua Enviro a research contract to inform future policy to reduce the impact from private sewage discharges on bathing water quality.