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<p>The Government directed water companies to increase their storm overflow monitoring
in 2013 and achieved 100% event duration monitoring (EDM) coverage before the end
of 2023. EDM data shows when storm overflows are discharging, and how long discharges
have lasted for. The wealth of data collected from these monitors will ensure that
we know the full extent of the problem – increasing transparency, revealing the worst-offending
overflows, and enabling regulators to hold polluters to account.</p><p> </p><p>In
addition, the Environment Agency takes over 7,000 samples each year at England’s 424
designated bathing waters, which are used to determine the annual bathing water classifications.
These classifications are displayed on signage at bathing waters and online on the
Environment Agency’s Swimfo website, to allow bathers to make informed decisions before
entering the water. If there is a pollution incident, a notification is posted on
the Swimfo website and on signage at the bathing water. Throughout the bathing season,
the Environment Agency makes daily pollution risk forecasts for a number of bathing
waters, where water quality may be temporarily reduced due to factors such as heavy
rainfall, wind or the tide. When a temporary reduction in water quality is forecast,
the Environment Agency issues a pollution risk warning and advice against bathing,
enabling bathers to avoid times or locations where the risk of pollution is higher
than normal and health risks from bathing may be higher than the annual classification
suggests. To reduce risk to health from bathing waters, the UK Health Security Agency
and the Environment Agency offer advice in their ‘Swim Healthy’ guidance, which is
available to read before making any decision on swimming.</p>
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