Water: Reform
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to his Department's consultation outcome entitled, Reforms to Bathing Water Regulations 2013, published on 12 March 2025, when (a) core reforms and (b) wider reforms will be implemented.
Answered by Emma Hardy
In November and December 2024, the Government, jointly with Welsh Government, consulted on Reforms to The Bathing Water Regulations 2013, in the first shake-up to the Bathing Water Regulations since they were introduced.
Reforms to the Bathing Water Regulations 2013 has been a priority for this Government since taking office in July 2024. The reforms to the Bathing Water Regulations will modernise the system so that it reflects how and where people use bathing waters. In their current form, the Regulations take a generally ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach, so we are working to facilitate the enjoyment for water users.
Subject to parliamentary approval, we intend to proceed with planned regulatory reform for the 3 Core Reforms and 9 Technical Amendments outlined in the consultation ahead of the next bathing season. For the wider reforms, we have begun policy development and research, including epidemiological studies, to determine how best to implement these reforms in future and take into account any potential environmental, societal and access impacts.
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