Bungay Bathing Water
At the start of the government's outdoor bathing season in May this year, our plans to apply for bathing water designation (BWD) at Falcon Meadow in Bungay were in place,
Sadly, just days before our launch event, DEFRA (Department for the Environment, Farming, and Rural Affairs) announced a block on further applications until they complete a full internal review of the BWD process. Consequently, the earliest we are likely to see designation is May 2026.
While we recognise the need to review the Bathing Water Designation process, this has been a massive blow to all the local communities preparing to submit applications this summer.
Until designation is achieved, the drivers needed to investigate the cause of water quality issues will not be available, and the Environment Agency will not be obliged to monitor water quality, leaving the river users at unknown risk for at least another year.
Our bathing water volunteers responded quickly to the concerns. They organised to take weekly water quality samples until the end of September this year, moving to monthly sampling until at least March 2025. This enables us to share information on bacteria levels at the time of collection and how they change each week. Samples collected are the equivalent of those taken by the EA at bathing water sites, indicating the Bathing Water classification the site would most likely receive if designated. Results are shared on our Facebook page and on-site.
We plan to re-engage with the application process in 2025 once DEFRA announces the outcome of its review.
This year’s bathing season
Here are some highlights from this year's free event program sponsored by Anglian Water, Broads Authority & Essex and Suffolk Water. Activities included fishing, kayaking, paddle boarding, a Sea Scout taster day, coracle building, and racing to encourage people to try something new and connect with our local river.
What next?
Our River Restoration Officer and Farm Cluster Advisor will work with landowners and farmers to find quick-win opportunities to improve water quality upstream of Falcon Meadow. This may include attempts to identify misconnected plumbing in local homes, water storage to reduce pressures on the sewage system, or addressing direct sources of water pollution from land use.
What you can do to help:
We will need more volunteers with various skills to help implement the necessary changes to improve water quality. If you can spare time, don't hesitate to contact info@riverwaveneytrust.org and express your interest in supporting the Bungay Bathing Water clean water for all projects.
Sponsorship and thanks:
