Residents apply for River Nadder as bathing water site

If approved, the Environment Agency would monitor bathing water quality throughout the bathing season (May 15 to September 30). As well as monitoring water quality, the Environment Agency would also recommend measures to improve it and classify the site annually as either excellent, good, sufficient or poor. Wiltshire Council would be required to display this information at the recreation grounds. The application is being made by Bemerton Community Ltd, who maintain the local community centre opposite. Margaret Willmot, a trustee, said: "Bemerton Recreation Ground has been used as a bathing spot for generations and has been particularly popular during the heat waves this summer." The application is set to be submitted in October. This year, the site was regularly tested by volunteers as part of Data HQ's citizen science programme. Their data placed the levels of bacteria within an acceptable range for most of the summer, with the exception of one survey in June where the levels of intestinal enterococci were far outside safe limits. The River Avon at Queen Elizabeth Gardens was one of thirteen sites across England which were designated as a bathing water this year. It was issued with a pollution warning in June, less than a month after being designated. But Bemerton Community argues the designated water status helped resolve these issues quicker. Bathers at Lower Bemerton Recreation Ground around the 1930s (Image: Margaret Willmot) They would like 'the same protection for the River Nadder'. Once the application is submitted, the Environment Agency will assess the current water quality, potential sources of pollution and the likely costs and scale of measures needed to address any pollution. If no significant issues emerge and the site is expected to meet at least the 'sufficient' standard – which Data HQ's surveys point towards – it will be recommended for designation. The final decision will be made by ministers at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). A consultation has opened to gather people's views on this designation. This will be used to help the Environment Agency decide whether or not to recommend the bathing water. A link to the questionnaire can be found via loveofwater.org/lower-bemerton-bathing-water-application