Bathing Water rules 2025: England and Wales update

If you swim, paddle or teach outdoors, there are new rules on how England and Wales manage bathing waters. Ministers have signed The Bathing Water (Amendment) (England and Wales) Regulations 2025, made on 27 October and laid before both Parliaments on 28 October 2025. Most provisions start this winter or ahead of the 2026 season, so it’s worth knowing what will change before you plan lessons or trips. Defra’s written statement confirms the timetable, echoed by Welsh Ministers.

Here’s the short version in plain English. First, ministers keep a general bathing season (15 May to 30 September) but can now set different dates for individual sites. Second, the old rule that automatically removed a site after five consecutive ‘poor’ classifications is replaced with a case-by-case test and extra time to improve where that’s realistic. Third, ministers can refuse to list a site as a bathing water if regulators advise that cleaning it up to at least ‘sufficient’ would be infeasible or disproportionately expensive, if very high bather numbers would undermine local environmental measures, or if there’s a significant safety risk. These headline reforms follow the Defra/Welsh Government consultation concluded in March 2025.

Timing matters. In England, most changes apply from 21 November 2025, while the new designation tests and the site‑specific season power switch on from 15 May 2026. In Wales, the package begins on 1 April 2026. That means guidance and local conversations will run through winter and early spring before the next bathing season opens.

If your community is seeking designation, you’ll notice a new feasibility step. The regulator-Environment Agency in England or Natural Resources Wales in Wales-must advise ministers on whether a site that has recorded five straight ‘poor’ years could reach at least ‘sufficient’ within a specified period, capped at five years. Ministers can allow that time if improvements look achievable; if not, permanent advice against bathing can be issued. This reform responds to last year’s consultation and replaces blunt automatic removal with a decision grounded in evidence.

Seasons become smarter. The law keeps a default season (15 May to 30 September) but allows ministers to set different dates for particular waters-useful for inland reservoirs popular in early autumn or urban rivers busier in late spring. Any bespoke dates must be decided before 15 May in the year they take effect, and can be revoked before the next season begins. A public list of any site‑specific seasons will be maintained so you can check what applies where. (From the statutory text.)

The designation test gets clearer. Ministers must not list a site as a bathing water if the regulator, after consulting the local authority, advises that meeting ‘sufficient’ quality would be infeasible or disproportionately costly, if large crowds would compromise nearby environmental protection work, or if natural features pose a significant safety risk. This is intended to focus effort where improvement can genuinely happen, though it puts a spotlight on transparency and local engagement. (From the statutory text.)

Short‑term pollution events-think a heavy downpour that triggers a brief spike-won’t distort the annual picture. Regulators may disregard samples taken during those episodes and take extra samples afterwards to meet the minimum required for the season. They can also add one verifying sample once the incident is presumed over. For classrooms, this is a good case study in how data quality and sampling design shape public health decisions. (From the statutory text.)

There’s a push to inform people earlier and more clearly. Details for each listed site-classification and the relevant season-must be published and actively shared using appropriate media before 15 May each year, or before any earlier, site‑specific season begins, and in languages ministers consider appropriate. Notices during incidents must point you directly to the regulator rather than a private contact. (From the statutory text.)

Abnormal situations-such as floods or confirmed contamination-let regulators temporarily suspend the monitoring calendar. Once conditions stabilise, they must take enough additional samples to meet the minimum for the season, and can replace any they had to set aside. Sample bottles and paperwork must be tightly matched to reduce error. (From the statutory text.)

A tiny maths tweak also arrives: the percentile formula used in water quality statistics now uses 1.645 rather than 1.65. That aligns the calculation with the standard 95th‑percentile z‑score students meet in A‑level maths and science, improving consistency between the regulation and textbooks. (From the statutory text.)

Who does what and how many sites are affected? In England, the Environment Agency monitors designated waters and classifies them as excellent, good, sufficient or poor; in 2025 it planned more than 7,000 samples across 451 sites between 15 May and late September. Wales’ monitoring is led by Natural Resources Wales. Use those classifications to plan visits, and keep an eye on signage and online updates.

One debate to watch is whether the feasibility screen could make it harder for very polluted rivers to gain the protections that come with bathing‑water status. Campaigners argue this risks locking out sites that most need investment; officials say it focuses resources and protects health. Track this conversation as guidance appears ahead of the 2026 application window.