Hi John,

Did you know we've just kicked off our fourth year of supporting communities to monitor water quality? 🧪

Across the UK, incredible citizen scientists have been testing their local rivers, lakes, lochs and beaches every week, building the evidence needed to expose the true state of our waters. 

Now, we've brought together a year's worth of results - and they reveal a shocking picture.

This is exactly why we need better water monitoring and stronger protections for everyone who loves the water. 👇

We need a year-round bathing season

Our findings show that testing must extend beyond the official 'bathing season' to keep us safe.

💩 81% of sites tested had "Poor" water quality across the year.

☀️ Even during the official summer bathing season, 70% of sites were rated "Poor".

❄️ Even though we still get in the water in winter, water quality consistently worsened - precisely when official testing often stops.

And this is just the tip of the iceberg. Pollution doesn't stop when the bathing season ends, so water quality testing shouldn't either.

What is citizen science?

Citizen scientists are volunteers who collect scientific data to help answer important environmental questions. 🧪

Between May 2025 and May 2026, volunteers at 42 locations across the UK tested their local waters every week using the same laboratory methods used by environmental regulators. They tested for two types of harmful bacteria that indicate faecal pollution: E. coli and intestinal enterococci.

The difference is that while regulators generally only test bathing waters between May and September, our citizen scientists continued testing all year round - revealing the pollution that's being missed.

Why this matters

People surf, swim, paddle and enjoy our blue spaces throughout the year. They deserve to know whether the water is safe, whatever the season.

But communities shouldn't have to fill the gaps left by our current monitoring system.

That's why we're calling for:

🧪 Year-round water quality testing.

🦠 Testing for a wider range of pollutants.

⏱️ Real-time continuous monitoring so communities can make informed decisions.

This report is more than a collection of data. It's powerful evidence that can help drive the policy changes our waters urgently need.