Original document : https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/bathing-waters-apply-to-designate-or-de-designate

Change description : 2025-05-15 09:30:00: Updated designation and de-designation application forms. In the guidance for each form, updated what to include in your application, the stakeholders you and Defra must consult, and the timings for getting a final decision. In the designation guidance, added information on a new Environment Agency assessment stage. [Guidance and regulation]

Showing diff : 2024-05-12 23:01:36.874085640 +00:00..2025-05-15 11:30:52.796590289 +00:00

Guidance

Bathing waters: apply to designate or de-designate

Guidance and application forms to designate or de-designate a coastal or inland water as a bathing water.

From:
Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
Published
3 July 2023
Last updated
1315 May 20242025 — See all updates

Applies to England

Documents

Designate a bathing water: guidance on how to apply

HTML

Designate a bathing water: application form

ODT, 21.122.5 KB

This file is in an OpenDocument format

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email defra.helpline@defra.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

De-designate a bathing water: guidance on how to apply

HTML

De-designate a bathing water: application form

ODT, 19.820.5 KB

This file is in an OpenDocument format

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Details Request an accessible format.

The

If Bathingyou Wateruse Regulationsassistive andtechnology application(such guidanceas area currentlyscreen beingreader) revised.and Duringneed a version of this time,document Defrain isa notmore acceptingaccessible applicationsformat, forplease aemail bathingdefra.helpline@defra.gov.uk. waterPlease designationtell orus de-designation.

Wewhat expectformat toyou beginneed. acceptingIt applicationswill againhelp inus springif 2025.

you say what assistive technology you use.

Details

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:

  • manyto peoplehave areat expectedleast to100 bathebathers ata day during the sitebathing season (15 May to 30 September)
  • infrastructureto orhave toilet facilities arebathers providedcan atuse during the bathing season, within a short distance of up to about 500m from the site
  • facilities and other measures to 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.

Updates to this page

Published 3 July 2023
Last updated 1315 May 2024 + show2025 href="#full-history">+ show all updates

Sign up for emails or print this page

Update history

2025-05-15 09:30
Updated designation and de-designation application forms. In the guidance for each form, updated what to include in your application, the stakeholders you and Defra must consult, and the timings for getting a final decision. In the designation guidance, added information on a new Environment Agency assessment stage.

2024-05-13 00:01
Defra is not accepting applications for a bathing water designation or de-designation.

2024-02-26 09:30
The local police, Royal Agricultural Society of England and Tenant Farmers Association have been added to the list of who Defra will invite to respond to the consultation after you have submitted your application to designate or de-designate a bathing water.

2023-07-03 09:30
First published.