In Oxford, the Thames has become accessible to swimmers

ENVIRONMENTAL activists want to make England's rivers official swimming areas to raise awareness about the country's water quality. The government has given part of the Thames Bathing Water Status. It will be monitored by the Environment Agency to allow locals to swim to their heart's content in a natural environment.

England has found a way to protect its rivers from pollution: turn them into official bathing sites. To this end, two basins, including part of the Thames near Oxford, will become official wilderness bathing areas from May 15, the British government announced on Tuesday, April 12.

Environmental activists welcome the new status as a way to put pressure on water companies to stop dumping sewage into areas where people often swim. The Environment Agency will be required to take regular samples to assess the quality of the water and determine whether measures are needed to reduce bacteria levels and allow bathers to swim without risk to their health.

The English government recently committed to reducing, among other things, wastewater discharges near bathing areas by 70% during the bathing season by 2035. A plan considered insufficient by environmentalists who would like to see this vigilance extended throughout the year.

Local Oxford residents participated in obtaining this new designation for these wild swimming spots. "[They] have shown their overwhelming approval for these sites as places to enjoy and connect with nature, so I am pleased to see these locations receiving designated bathing water status," said Environment Minister Rebecca Pow.

This status will also apply to a coastal site on the East Cowes esplanade on the Isle of Wight. In 2020, Yorkshire residents already obtained this status for the River Wharfe at Ilkley, the first in England.