Warning Signs at Nearly All England River Bathing Sites Over Unsafe Water Fears

Warning signs advising against swimming stand at nearly all of England's official river bathing sites because of concerns over unsafe water.

The government announced six new river bathing sites that will be monitored for the first time this summer, including the first such location on the River Thames in London.

The BBC visited all 14 existing inland river locations tested by the Environment Agency last year for bacteria linked to human and animal feces. Only the River Stour in Suffolk and the River Thames in Oxfordshire showed acceptable levels. The other 12 rated poor, with advice not to swim.

These six additions bring the total to more than 460 locations regularly tested by the Environment Agency. Most are coastal, but the number of lake and river sites is growing, with results posted on a government website.

Sites qualify for bathing designation based on criteria like bather numbers and nearby toilet facilities.

Coastal water quality generally beats inland rivers, which often suffer sewage discharges and agricultural runoff.

Campaigners say designating a river as a bathing site, which triggers testing, ranks among the best ways to push water companies to cut sewage spills. One called it bonkers that turning a polluted river into a swimming spot offers the surest path to cleanup.

Water Minister Emma Hardy said upon announcing the new sites: The introduction of these new bathing sites means better monitoring of our waterways, a boost for local tourism, and greater confidence for local swimmers.

Water companies object to the expanding list. A Water UK spokesman, which represents the companies, told the BBC: Designating an area as a bathing water before it is suitable for bathing and without a plan in place to clean it up risks confusing the public, who will rightly believe it is safe to swim there.

The River Wharfe at Ilkley in Yorkshire became the first river bathing site in 2020 and serves as a key test case. When it rains, there can be tens of thousands of E.coli units per 100 milliliters, said Karen Shackleton of the Ilkley Clean River Group. E.coli, one bacteria the Environment Agency tests for, prompts stay-out advice above 900 units per 100 milliliters.

Fellow campaigner Di Leary pointed to a sewage overflow pipe across the river. We're basically swimming in other people's poo, she said before a quick dip.

The River Wharfe at Ilkley has rated poor every year since designation, but campaigners expect improvement. Yorkshire Water runs a 60 million pound investment program to reduce sewage flows into the river.

This wasn't about wild swimming, Shackleton said. It was actually about putting something in place so that the Environment Agency had to come and test the river, because they don't test rivers as standard. Then when they find the results that are poor, that drives the investment by the water company.

Both saw madness in a system that nudges people to swim in polluted water to build cleanup pressure. It's very much a Catch 22 situation, Leary said. Shackleton nodded: It's disgustingly bonkers.

In Shropshire, Alison Biddulph led designation of three sites: two on the River Severn at Ironbridge and Shrewsbury, and one on the River Teme at Ludlow. All rate poor so far, with no-swim signs posted.

That does not deter Biddulph. She joined a swim and urged participation, saying she skips after heavy rain that triggers raw sewage spills. I think it's probably going to take five years before you see any real difference, but we've already got a lot more focus on it, she said in the water.

Additional reporting by Kevin Church