Source: Friends of the Dart / Facebook
The River Dart has just become the first river in the UK to achieve Designated Bathing Water status for a record number of individual sites. Four sites have been awarded Designated Bathing Water status by DEFRA in time for the start of the UK’s 2024 Bathing Water Season on the 15th May 2024.
To all of the amazing individuals, businesses and organisations in our communities and further afield who made this possible, thank you! This is a hugely positive step in the progress towards resolving sewage and wastewater pollution in our rivers.
The four new bathing water sites are located on the river from Totnes down to Dartmouth, at the mouth of the river: Totnes (Steamer Quay), Dittisham (The Ham), Stoke Gabriel (creek), Warfleet Dartmouth.
Founding director Hannah Pearson said “Our bathing water application included an unprecedented amount of support with four application sites along the River Dart. We are delighted that DEFRA has granted all four sites with bathing water status. There are still many challenges ahead, so this designation will act as a lever for long term positive change and clearly shows that when communities come together and take collaborative action, real change can happen.”