Bathing waters at Colwick Country Park were rated ‘excellent’ in the latest inspection by the Environment Agency (EA).
West Lake in the park had water samples taken back in May and September of 2021 and was judged to be ‘excellent’ for bathers.
The water is monitored for sources of pollution known to be a risk to bathers’ health, with a number of samples taken from each site during the bathing season. Each sample is tested for bacteria, specifically E coli and intestinal enterococci.
The park’s lake has been rated as ‘excellent’ in most years, but a ‘good’ rating was awarded once back in 2018.
Nationwide figures released today revealed show that 99% of bathing waters in England have passed water quality standards following testing by the Environment Agency at over 400 designated sites.
The EA has been monitoring bathing water sites since the 1990s, and in this time there have been significant improvements. In the early 1990s, for example, just 28% of bathing waters met the highest standards in force at that time.
Environment Agency chair Emma Howard Boyd said: “Twenty years of improvements in bathing water took targeted regulation and significant investment. While this is reflected in today’s results we must continue to work together to maintain this trend.
“We cannot afford to be complacent. Public confidence in water quality has faltered in recent years with new evidence of pollution incidents getting much needed attention as a result of some excellent campaigning. The polluter must pay. To restore trust, water companies, industry and farmers need to get the basics right or face legal action.”
Environment Minister Rebecca Pow said: Water quality is an absolute priority. We are the first Government to direct Ofwat to prioritise action by water companies to protect the environment and deliver the improvements that we all want to see.
“But we must go further to protect and enhance water quality. Our Environment Act puts in place more protections against water pollution than ever before, we are investing in programmes to support farmers to tackle water quality issues, and we are clear that where water companies do not step up we will take robust action.”
The EA’s Swimfo website provides detailed information on each of the 400+ bathing waters in England, and notifies bathers when Pollution Risk Warnings have been issued.
You can read the results for West Lake HERE
