Supporting your application
Useful links & digital resources
Below is a list of useful links to help your application, from government agencies to information on sewage data.
Surfers Against Sewage
Guidance to respond to Defra’s consultation for 27 new bathing waters
Top of the Poops
Top of the Poops – Sewage Spill Data
The Outdoor Swimming Society
The Outdoor Swimming Society Inland Access Guide
Government Agencies
Application requirements:
England – Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA)
Northern Ireland – Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA)
Scotland – Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA)
Wales – Welsh Government
Facilities, Liability, Landownership and Access
Search for land and property information – gov.uk
Who Owns England? Land ownership map
Environmental Conservation Organisations
Environmental Agencies
Existing Designated Bathing Waters and Bathing Profiles:
England – Environment Agency
Northern Ireland – DAERA
Scotland – SEPA
Wales – Natural Resources Wales
Bathing Water Legislation
The Bathing Water Regulations 2013
Ilkley Clean River Group
Bathing water application and campaign
Thames 21
Find your MP
MP’s political Views in Parliament
Water user groups
British Canoeing – Go Paddling
Citizen Science
Feedback from SAS 2023 Citizen Science Water Quality Testing Programme