River Thames in London Designated First Official Bathing Water Area

LONDON (AP) — The River Thames in London will welcome swimmers on Friday as the city’s first official bathing water area, part of 13 new monitored swimming sites across England.

The designated stretch at Ham in southwest London follows a successful campaign by local swimmers who demonstrated that thousands use the river year-round.

Marlene Lawrence, founder of the Teddington Bluetits group with more than 2,000 members, submitted the bathing water application alongside colleagues.

“This is amazing for the river and for the many people who enjoy it,” she said.

“We want bathing water status to be a driver of keeping the River Thames clean and it will be fantastic to have this part of the river designated.”

Other new bathing sites include a tidal inlet off the River Yealm in Devon, part of the River Fowey in Cornwall, the River Dee at Sandy Lane in Chester, a sea swimming area at Little Shore in Amble, Northumberland, Pangbourne Meadow in Berkshire — which inspired the novel “The Wind in the Willows” — and the River Swale in Richmond, Yorkshire.

Water Minister Emma Hardy said the designations “mean better monitoring of our waterways, a boost for local tourism and greater confidence for local swimmers.”

“Following years of indifference towards bathing waters, this government has expanded the number of sites as part of our overhaul of the water sector,” Hardy said.

“We’re committed to generational reform of our water industry and won’t stop until the job is done,” she added.

Campaigners began pushing for river bathing water status six years ago under the EU-derived Bathing Water Directive, aiming to drive cleanup efforts.

Previously, designations were limited to coastal waters and lakes. Rivers face pollution from sewage discharges, “forever chemicals,” and agricultural runoff, and campaigners hope rigorous testing will force water companies to reduce sewage pollution.

The Environment Agency, the regulator, tests for faecal indicator organisms in bathing waters.

Throughout summer, agency officers will visit sites weekly to sample and monitor water quality, publishing results online.

The agency said it continually evaluates pollution levels and works with communities, farmers, and water companies to improve quality.

In Ilkley, West Yorkshire, where the River Wharfe became the first river bathing site five years ago, Yorkshire Water is spending over £85 million on infrastructure upgrades to boost water quality.

The new bathing sites, designated from May through the end of September, are:

East Beach at West Bay, Bridport, Dorset

Granville Parade Beach, Sandgate, Kent

Little Shore, Amble, Northumberland and New Brighton Beach (east), Merseyside

Queen Elizabeth Gardens, Salisbury, Wiltshire

River Dee at Sandy Lane, Chester, Cheshire

River Fowey in Lostwithiel, Cornwall

River Swale in Richmond, Yorkshire

River Thames at Ham and Kingston, Greater London