Written Question·Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs·UIN 91319

Lakes: Standards

Tabled: 17 November 2025
Answered: 24 November 2025
Named Day

Question

Tim Farron

Liberal DemocratWestmorland and Lonsdale

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of a different classification system for lake ecosystems.

Answer

Emma Hardy

In the Bathing Water Regulations 2013, ‘Schedule 5, classification’ shows there are already different standards for inland waters and for coastal and transitional waters when measuring E coli and intestinal enterococci. This means there are varying classifications of water quality thresholds depending on pathogen levels in place at different locations, recognising the distinct natural characteristics and hydrodynamics that exist in different water environments.

The SI that was laid 28 October and due to come into force 21 November this year will not change this.