As many people relax post-Christmas, thousands are gearing up for the daring tradition of participating in Boxing Day swims in icy waters. While exploring various water bodies across the nation, the significant challenges with water quality have been consistently highlighted. However, the current administration is actively pushing for substantial reforms to establish a reliable water system. Recent findings from the Environment Agency revealed that 93% of bathing waters now adhere to swimming standards, showcasing a notable improvement from the previous year.
During a visit to a bathing water site in Nottingham, local swimmers shared their year-round swimming habits, even breaking through ice in winter. Efforts have been initiated to modernize bathing water monitoring protocols for enhanced flexibility and responsiveness to swimmers’ preferences. In a significant development, the Water (Special Measures) Act, passed in February, implemented stringent enforcement measures within the sector. This includes holding water executives accountable for concealing illegal sewage discharges and prohibiting unjustified bonuses, preventing £4 million in bonuses for ten water executives this past summer.
Plans are underway to enforce automatic penalties on water companies to ensure swift and unavoidable consequences for any misconduct. The Environment Agency’s water regulation budget has been raised to a record £189 million for 2025/26, with a commitment to conduct 10,000 inspections during this period, a substantial increase from previous years. Furthermore, a total of 87 investigations have been initiated against water companies.
This summer, minimum compensation rates were doubled, and compensation for boil notices was introduced for the first time, aiming to protect customers and businesses in cases of water company failures, as witnessed in Tunbridge Wells recently.
The primary objective of the government is to instill confidence in people to swim and enjoy water activities in their local surroundings. A significant investment of £104 billion has been secured for essential infrastructure upgrades over the next five years. The upcoming Water White Paper, set to be released in the New Year, will outline a comprehensive strategy for long-term reform, including proposals for a new unified water regulator. While substantial progress has been achieved, there is a continued commitment to further advancements.