UK waters are too polluted to swim in – but European countries offer answers (2024)

FAQs

UK waters are too polluted to swim in – but European countries offer answers? ›

Within Europe, the UK's polluted waterways are largely an anomaly. Many other countries have reported significant improvements in bathing water quality in recent decades – indeed, bathing is now possible in some capital cities including Amsterdam, Berlin, Copenhagen and Vienna.

The UK has over 600 designated bathing waters

There are about 600 locations protected in law for bathing. These are the only locations where investment has historically been approved by regulators for protecting swimmers, and monitored for that purpose.

excessive use of fertiliser and pesticides in agriculture – identified as being responsible for 40% of water pollution in England. untreated sewage released by water companies – responsible for 35% so-called “run-off” from roads and towns which contains pollutants such as oil – responsible for 18%

Decades of mismanagement have allowed our rivers, lakes and seas to be polluted from a range of sources, including agriculture, industry and sewage from ageing sanitation treatment infrastructure. Climate change, declining biodiversity and ecosystem degradation have all exacerbated the problem.

For assessed river water bodies in England, 55% were at less than good status for phosphorus in 2016. Nearly half of groundwater bodies will not reach good chemical status by 2021. For groundwaters protected for drinking water, nitrate levels were responsible for 65% of failures to achieve good chemical status.

Water quality is generally higher in other parts of the UK . In Scotland, around two-thirds of surface waters are classed as having "good" ecological status. In Wales the figure is 40%, and in Northern Ireland 31%.

Some risks are obvious, but there are also potential hidden dangers. These include submerged debris, reeds and unexpected cold-water shock. Some of our water spaces, in particular canals, are just not safe or appropriate for open water swimming, and it remains a breach of the Trust's byelaws to swim in these spaces.

A few things can happen to change the colour of the sea. Much of the Uk sand comes from rocks most of which are brown or greyish and we have one of the highest tidal movements in the world plus strong winds as mentioned will churn up the sand, Coral seas tend to be clearer because the sand is made of coral and heavier.

Drought in the UK. Increasing temperatures and a lack of rainfall means that the UK is heading for a drought. But there are ways we can prepare. Long periods of dry weather and heat can cause drought and water shortages in the UK.

The UK has stringent water quality standards to protect your safety, and your tap water is filtered of toxins in treatment plants before it reaches your home. This doesn't totally get rid of all impurities in the water - but the amounts left in are generally considered safe in the UK.

What is the cleanest river in Europe? ›

The Italian Sarno, Danube and Rhine are considered the most polluted in Europe. The cleanest river is the Tara, which, cutting through the mountainous areas of Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, creates the deepest canyon in Europe, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

There is currently only have one declared Inland Bathing water in the UK on the River Wharfe in Yorkshire. The declaration requires water companies to prevent sewage pollution upstream of the swimming site, and makes the water quality safer for recreational use.

The main water sources in the UK are rivers, lakes, and underground aquifers. Since these sources often pass through mineral-rich regions, they naturally accumulate minerals like calcium and magnesium. Consequently, the water derived from these sources tends to be harder in nature.

The number of confirmed cases of people affected by a water parasite outbreak in Devon has risen to 57, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) says. The agency said more cases were expected to continue to be confirmed over the coming days as samples were processed.

Absolutely! You can swim at plenty of UK beaches, as the UK's coastline is home to numerous stunning beaches. From the rugged cliffs of Cornwall to the golden sands of Lincolnshire, the UK offers a diverse range of beaches suitable for swimmers of all ages and skill levels.

Devon and Cornwall are two of Britain's largest shark hotspots, with an estimated 10 million small and 100,000 larger sharks across 40 different species said to already be swimming in the seas around the UK.

The River Thames is a hot spot for activity, particularly during the hot summer months. As great as it can be for cooling off, it is important to remember that the Thames is a dangerous river - its strong current, houseboats and debris can all cause serious risk to life.

According to recent statistics, roughly 1 in 3 adults in the UK cannot swim, meaning around 14.2 million can't swim one length of a 25-metre pool.