- Six new river swimming locations, including the first on the River Thames in London, are to be officially designated as bathing sites by the government this summer.
- This expansion comes despite 12 of the 14 existing river bathing sites being unusable last year due to pollution from bacteria linked to human and animal faeces.
- Signs advising people to avoid swimming have been installed at these 12 polluted sites, with only two existing river locations meeting acceptable water quality standards.
- Campaigners view official designation as an effective tool to compel water companies to reduce sewage spills, despite the irony of designating polluted rivers.
- While the Water Minister welcomed the expansion for better monitoring and tourism, water companies warned that designating unsafe sites risks misleading the public into believing they are safe for swimming.
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