Earlier this year, an investigation by this programme led to calls for a change to the system that’s meant to warn swimmers in England about pollution linked to sewage. We revealed that some of the worst test results were being disregarded when awarding clean water ratings.
Now, a new analysis of the data raises more questions about the bathing water testing and rating system. The analysis, which was conducted by a team of independent scientists, found that:
* Some of the worst test results are still being disregarded when awarding clean water ratings.
* The system is not always able to accurately predict when water is safe for swimming.
* The system is not always transparent, and it can be difficult to understand how ratings are awarded.
The scientists who conducted the analysis are calling for a number of changes to the system, including:
* Making the system more transparent.
* Improving the accuracy of the system.
* Ensuring that the system is able to more effectively warn swimmers about pollution linked to sewage.
The government has said that it is reviewing the bathing water testing and rating system, and that it will consider the recommendations made by the scientists.
In the meantime, swimmers are advised to check the latest water quality data before swimming in any body of water. They can do this by visiting the website of the Environment Agency.
