Our coastal waters should be clean and safe for use by wildlife and people, the abuse of this natural resource needs to stop and damage already done reversed to a more natural state.
“Local coastal councils have long recognised the impact poor water quality can have on local communities, tourism and the shellfish industry.
Poor bathing water quality affects councils around the country and shows how it is now critical that water pollution is taken seriously as a national problem, with steps taken to improve all of our coastal waters as an urgent priority.”
Cllr Sandra Squire, Member Champion for Coastal Water Quality and Cabinet Member for Environmental and Coastal at Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk
“Water quality is a growing problem for Local Authorities, their residents, and communities. Coastal communities are dependent on good water quality as it supports tourism, local economy and businesses, coastal habitats, and human physical and mental health. It saddens me that such a valuable resource such as our watercourses and coastal waters are still being polluted in the 22nd century which has led me to be involved in this group.”
Michelle Hogg, LGA Coastal SIG co-Officer Lead, Coastal Water Quality and Operations Manager Environmental Protection and Projects, South Tyneside Council
In June 2025, the LGA Coastal SIG collaboratively hosted the first Coastal Water Quality Summit with the Borough of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Council.
The key asks from attendees were:
- Real-time water quality data accessible to the public;
- Expanded definitions of water users under bathing water classifications;
- Modernised testing beyond E. coli to include viruses and chemical pollutants and;
- Stronger enforcement and funding for pollution prevention
The LGA Coastal SIG work collaboratively to respond to governmental consultations. On 23 December 2024, our membership responded to the Defra Consultation on Reform of the Bathing Water Regulations 2013. Our response can be read below:
In 2023. the LGA Coastal SIG surveyed its member councils to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the main coastal water quality issues that are facing our coastal Councils and their unique communities.
As an increasingly prevalent issue facing coastal communities, the report (see below) seeks to provide context and summarises the content and results of the LGA Coastal SIG Coastal Water Quality questionnaire carried out between 13th April and 31st May 2023.
Input was sought from Local Authority (LAs) members of the LGA Coastal SIG including those with statutory duties in respect of bathing waters sites. Coastal waters are also community assets and are valuable for fishing, tourism and ports. It is hoped that the variety of responses from coastal practitioners, officer and elected members will help generate a better evidence base of the issues being faced relating to coastal water quality and help identify the main issues that are prominent across English coastal communities. The survey also seeks to identify where further training and SIG resources and time can be used to help LAs effectively manage and mitigate the factors impacting coastal water quality on a more universal and national scale.
At present, LAs across the country are facing barriers in successfully managing issues related to coastal water quality and the impact of external aggravators such as climate change, storm surges and the engagement of Government and water companies. Gathering details from this survey about how each LA is currently handling this issue and the identification of gaps in their ability to effectively handle this will hopefully help inform future actions taken by the LGA Coastal SIG and partners.