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The Ripple Effect: Citizen Science Report

A report which shines a light on outdated bathing water legislation using citizen science data and community campaigns.

The Ripple Effect - Citizen Science Report (7.38 MB)

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    • The Bathing Water Regulations in the UK are failing to protect water users. They must be radically and urgently updated.

    This report draws on the efforts of citizen scientists and local communities to highlight fundamental flaws in the way bathing waters in the UK are designated, tested and classified.

    Key findings:

    • 77% of the sites tested by citizen scientists in 2024 failed to meet minimum water quality standards.
    • The current regulatory system fails to protect all recreational water users, including kayakers, surfers, and paddleboarders, by excluding them from the bathing water designation process.
    • The testing period is too short, missing important data during the winter and autumn months when pollution levels can spike.
    • Emerging pollutants, such as PFAS (forever chemicals) and antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, are not tested for under current regulations.

    We reveal that under the current Bathing Water Regulations’ testing regime, bathing waters remain untested for 32 weeks of the year. That the regulations’ assumptions about water use are fundamentally flawed (spoiler alert: it’s not just swimmers). That there are a vast range of emerging pollutants and threats unaccounted for by testing. And that the practice of disregarding certain water samples during pollution events distorts the true picture of water quality and the risks to public health.

    Bathing Water Regulations need to be updated, to:

    • Test water quality all year round

    • Count all recreational water users when deciding whether to designate a bathing site;

    • Test for emerging pollutants.

    These changes are vital to protect public health, empower local communities, and ensure that the UK’s water quality monitoring system is fit for purpose in the 21st century. By adopting the recommendations set out, the UK can build a robust, year-round monitoring system. One that reflects the reality of how people use water, supports better water quality management, and ultimately safeguards the health of millions of water users.