The Environment Agency has released its annual water quality ratings for officially designated bathing spots across England, and the results are concerning for wild swimmers in the West Midlands. All three designated inland bathing sites in the region – the River Severn at Shrewsbury, the River Severn at Ironbridge, and the River Teme in Ludlow – have been given the lowest possible rating of 'poor'.
According to the Environment Agency, roughly one in every 14 bathing sites in England (approximately 7%) has poor quality water. While 66% of English sites are rated 'excellent' and 21% are 'good', the West Midlands sites fall far behind, joining a list of 32 locations nationwide that failed to meet minimum water quality standards.
What the Ratings Mean
Each year, the Environment Agency assesses the water quality of official bathing spots and assigns one of four ratings: 'Excellent' (the highest, cleanest class), 'Good' (generally good water quality), 'Sufficient' (meets minimum standards), or 'Poor' (has not met the new minimum standards). The assessments are crucial for public health, especially as heatwaves are expected to return after a brief cool spell, prompting more people to head to rivers and lakes to cool down.
The poor ratings in the West Midlands are part of a broader trend affecting inland bathing sites across England. Other poorly rated inland spots include Derwent Water at Crow Park in the Lake District, three rivers in Yorkshire – the River Nidd in Knaresborough, the Wharfe in Ilkley, and the Wharfe in Wetherby – and the Ribble at Edisford Bridge in Clitheroe, Lancashire.
Full List of Poorly Rated Sites
The Environment Agency's full list of 32 bathing sites rated 'poor' includes a mix of coastal and inland locations:
- Tynemouth Cullercoats, North Tyneside
- Littlehaven Beach, South Tyneside
- Derwent Water at Crow Park, Cumberland
- Haverigg, Cumberland
- Blackpool North, Blackpool
- River Ribble at Edisford Bridge, Ribble Valley
- Nidd at the Lido, Knaresborough, North Yorkshire
- Scarborough South Bay, North Yorkshire
- Wharfe at Cromwheel, Ilkley, Bradford
- Wharfe at Wilderness Carpark, Leeds
- River Severn at Ironbridge, Telford and Wrekin
- River Teme in Ludlow, Shropshire
- River Severn in Shrewsbury, Shropshire
- Sheep's Green, River Cam, Cambridge
- Wolvercote Mill Stream, Oxford
- Bognor Regis (Aldwick), Arun
- Worthing Beach House, Worthing
- Southsea East, City of Portsmouth
- River Avon at Fordingbridge, New Forest
- Dymchurch, Folkestone and Hythe
- Littlestone, Folkestone and Hythe
- Weston-super-Mare Uphill Slipway, North Somerset
- Weston Main, North Somerset
- Weston-super-Mare Sand Bay, North Somerset
- Lyme Regis Church Cliff Beach, Dorset
- River Frome at Farleigh Hungerford, Somerset
- River Tone at French Weir Park, Somerset
- Dunster Beach, Somerset
- Blue Anchor West, Somerset
- Stoke Gabriel, Dart Estuary, South Hams
- Steamer Quay, Dart Estuary, South Hams
- Coastguards Beach, Erme Estuary, South Hams
Wales Fares Better
In contrast, Wales has far fewer poor-quality sites. Just two of the 112 official bathing sites in Wales were judged to have poor water quality last year: Watch House Bay (Bae Gwylio) and Ogmore-By-Sea (Aberogwr), both in the Vale of Glamorgan.
The Environment Agency's interactive map allows swimmers to check the rating of their nearest bathing spots. With more people expected to seek out wild swimming opportunities during the coming heatwaves, knowing these ratings is vital for making informed decisions about where to take a dip safely.
