Bathing waters: apply to designate or de-designate

Anyone can apply to designate or de-designate a bathing water.

If a site is designated, the Environment Agency will monitor water quality during the bathing season to protect the health of people bathing. The bathing season is from 15 May to 30 September.

If a site is de-designated, the Environment Agency will stop monitoring bathing water quality.

Find out how your personal information is used if you apply to designate or de-designate a bathing water.

Bathing water designation: criteria to meet

The criteria for a coastal or inland water to be designated as a bathing water are:

• many people are expected to bathe at the site
• infrastructure or facilities are provided at the site
• other measures promote bathing at the site

This is set out in the Bathing Water Regulations 2013 (Regulation 3(1)).

Bathing water monitoring

The Environment Agency monitors levels of E. coli and intestinal enterococci at designated bathing waters. They also look for indications of cyanobacteria, macro-algae, marine phytoplankton and waste.

The Environment Agency classifies designated bathing waters every year as excellent, good, sufficient or poor.