The swimmers backing calls for year-round testing

Claire Jones and Anna McCabe say keeping your mouth closed is a key to safe swimming in the sea

Friends Claire Jones and Anna McCabe swim in the Devon sea as often as they can - but always with a concern at the back of their minds.

"I always keep my mouth shut as much as possible," said Ms Jones. "You don't know what's in there."

They are backing a petition launched by Luke Pollard, Labour member for Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport, for water testing results at Firestone Bay to be published year-round instead of only in the official bathing season of 15 May to 30 September.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said it was planning to introduce reforms later this year.

For swimmers at Firestone Bay, an increasingly popular swimming spot next to Devil's Point to the west of Plymouth Sound, reform cannot come soon enough.

Testing elsewhere has revealed water quality in some designated swimming spots falls below required standards.

'Peace of mind'

Defra referred the BBC to a plan to reform "outdated regulations", including removing fixed bathing season dates with a "more flexible approach to monitoring".

Ms Jones, from Plympton, who swims in the area up to three times a week, said increased testing would be "useful... just to give people peace of mind that we're getting into water that's not going to make us unwell".

The 48-year-old said: "I don't worry too much but year-round test results would make me feel better."

Anna McCabe, 51, a nurse at Derriford Hospital, agreed: "When it's torrential rain and the water quality isn't at its best, testing can make it safer just in case you do swallow it."

Ruthie Warton says her motto is "keep your mouth closed and don't lick yourself dry"

Ruthie Wharton, a 38-year-old mum of three from Plymouth, said: "We always say just keep your mouth closed and don't lick yourself clean afterwards."

On year-round testing, she said: "I think it's a great idea, we swim all year round so it would be really good to know it's safe and to give the sewage companies more incentive to keep it clean as well.

"Today it's a bit scummy, a bit brown, but we'll get in and keep our mouths closed the best we can and try not to drink it."

In 2024 the number of spills by South West Water (SWW) across its network dropped slightly from 58,000 to 56,000, but the duration of storm overflow usage increased to 544,000 hours from 531,000 in 2023, the Environment Agency said.

The water company has said it would spend £760m over the next five years to tackle the problem.

Brit Masters would like to see year-round testing and says the water can sometimes look "scummy"

Brit Masters, 42, a teacher from Plymouth, said: "I do know people who have been sick after swimming after rainfall.

"I think all-year-round testing would be good.

"It's good for your mental health, physical health and it just makes me feel calmer.

"But it would really help if the water was tested."

Diane Jones says she knows people who have become poorly after sea swimming

Accountant Diane Jones, who swims in Plymouth about once a month, said: "I would definitely want to see more testing, just to know it's safe, especially after rainfall.

"You always think if you're swallowing some what's going to happen and what you're getting into.

"The water quality is lovely and clear, but unless it's tested you don't know what's in it.

"I've never been poorly but I know people who have."

'Adapt to demand'

Defra said removing fixed bathing season dates specified in regulation would allow "a more flexible and site-specific approach to be taken to better suit the needs of local stakeholder and members of the public".

"This will bring the legislation up to date to meet our modern requirements and enable us to adapt to local demand, all whilst maintaining or enhancing the current monitoring levels," it said.

"Further details about how this will impact each area will be made clear when the updates to the regulations come into effect later this year."

SWW said bathing water was a priority and it fully supported efforts to "better understand conditions" across its 157 bathing waters.

It said it was investing "record amounts" to reducing storm overflow use to fewer than 10 spills a year, while trialling "enhanced sampling" at 14 bathing waters, including Firestone Bay.

Firestone Bay has been rated excellent in 2023 and 2024 since being designated as a bathing water site, it said.