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Water: Standards

Asked by Freddie van MierloLiberal DemocratDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled Answered 11 November 2025UIN 88109

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 1 July 2025 to Question 63264 on Reforms to Bathing Water Regulations 2013 and with reference to the Written Statement Reform of 28 October 2025 on The Bathing Water Regulations 2013, what her planned timetable is for the implementation of the wider reforms.

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. On 28 October 2025 the Department laid before Parliament a statutory instrument which incorporated the three core reforms and several technical amendments consulted on.

The consultation also sought views on two wider possible reforms. We have begun policy development and research, including immersion studies to determine how best to implement these reforms in future and take into account any potential environmental, societal and access impacts. We will share information regarding timetables for potential implementation of these wider reforms following the conclusion of the studies and after further policy development.

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