Regulation 14 Public information and general provisions about short-term pollution

(1)

This regulation applies where, having consulted the local authority that controls a bathing water, the appropriate agency has established relevant procedures for short-term pollution at the bathing water.

(2)

The appropriate agency must—

(a)

ensure that the bathing water profile established under regulation 7 contains—

(i)

information as to the anticipated nature, frequency and duration of expected short-term pollution;

(ii)

details of any remaining causes of short-term pollution;

(iii)

details of the appropriate agency management measures taken and the time schedule for the elimination of the causes of the short-term pollution; and

(iv)

information on relevant procedures for short-term pollution taken during a short-term pollution incident and the F1... contact details of F2the appropriate agency responsible for taking such action;

(b)

notify the local authority that controls the bathing water when short-term pollution is predicted there; and

(c)

publish on its website the following information—

(i)

the conditions likely to lead to short-term pollution at the bathing water;

(ii)

the likelihood of short-term pollution there and its likely duration;

(iii)

the causes of short-term pollution there;

(iv)

the relevant procedures for short-term pollution in place there; and

(v)

the information referred to in paragraph (3).

(3)

The local authority must ensure that the following information is actively disseminated and promptly made available to the public during the bathing season in an easily accessible place in the near vicinity of the bathing water—

(a)

an indication of the number of days for which advice against bathing was issued there during the immediately preceding bathing season because of short-term pollution; and

(b)

a warning whenever short-term pollution is predicted or present there.

F3(4)

In the event of short-term pollution, the appropriate agency may, where the appropriate agency considers it necessary, take one additional sample as soon as reasonably practicable after the pollution incident is presumed to have ended, to verify that it has ended.

F4(5)

The appropriate agency may disregard samples taken during short-term pollution from the set of bathing water quality data for the bathing water, and—

(a)

after the end of short-term pollution and before the end of the bathing season, the appropriate agency must, where necessary, take additional samples to ensure that it has the minimum number required for the bathing water for the bathing season;

(b)

where the appropriate agency expects to have the minimum number of samples required for the bathing water for the bathing season, the appropriate agency may take additional samples to replace those disregarded due to the short-term pollution, where the appropriate agency considers appropriate.

(6)

The appropriate agency must not classify the bathing water under regulation 11 as “sufficient”, “good” or “excellent” unless the number of samples disregarded under paragraph (5) represents no more than the greater of—

(a)

15% of the total number of samples provided for in the monitoring calendars established under paragraph 2 of Schedule 4 for the same period; and

(b)

one sample per bathing season.

Annotations

Textual amendments

F1: Words in reg. 14(2)(a)(iv) omitted (21.11.2025 for E., 1.4.2026 for W.) by virtue of The Bathing Water (Amendment) (England and Wales) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/1129), regs. 1(2)(3), 8(a)(i)
F2: Words in reg. 14(2)(a)(iv) substituted (21.11.2025 for E., 1.4.2026 for W.) by The Bathing Water (Amendment) (England and Wales) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/1129), regs. 1(2)(3), 8(a)(ii)
F3: Reg. 14(4) substituted (21.11.2025 for E., 1.4.2026 for W.) by The Bathing Water (Amendment) (England and Wales) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/1129), regs. 1(2)(3), 8(b)
F4: Reg. 14(5) substituted (21.11.2025 for E., 1.4.2026 for W.) by The Bathing Water (Amendment) (England and Wales) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/1129), regs. 1(2)(3), 8(c)