Swim spot given 'sufficient' water quality rating

Designated bathing water sites are tested weekly by the EA between May and September

A popular swimming area for families on the banks of the River Thames has been given a "sufficient" water quality rating.

Designated bathing water site Wallingford Beach, in Oxfordshire, was rated "poor" by the the Environment Agency (EA) in 2024.

The status meant the agency had been monitoring the beauty spot's water quality to protect people's health.

A Thames Water spokesperson said: "We welcome the news that Wallingford Beach has been rated 'sufficient' in this year's Bathing Water Quality Report, the only river bathing site in the country to receive this designation."

The 35m-long (115 ft) stretch is on the bank of the Thames, downstream from Wallingford Bridge.

The water at the popular swimming area was sampled 20 times between May and the end of September, and the EA said that it now met the "minimum standard for bathing".

South Oxfordshire District Councillor, Jo Robb said, "While this classification is an improvement on last year, which is to be celebrated, a rating of 'sufficient' means there is still a lot to do to reach 'excellent' where the water is clean and of the highest quality.

"We are relying on the Environment Agency and Thames Water working together to identify sources of pollution and take action to eliminate these, for the good of all river users and our wildlife."

A Thames Water spokesperson said: "We will continue to work closely with the Environment Agency and local partners to understand where improvements to our assets might be required in future, so that communities can continue to enjoy the bathing water."