Written Question·Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs·UIN 77582

Water: Health Hazards

Tabled: 16 September 2025
Answered: 16 October 2025

Question

Mohammad Yasin

LabourBedford

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to grant the Environment Agency statutory powers to test for (a) E. coli and (b) other harmful pathogens in watercourses.

Answer

Emma Hardy
The Environment Agency (EA) regularly samples and monitors for E.coli and Intestinal enterococci bacteria in watercourses that are officially designated as Bathing Waters. This information is available to the public, via the Swimfo website. The EA may req...

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