![\"Water](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0_The-Water-Special-Measures-Act-Comes-Into-Force-This-Month.jpg\")
Britain’s waters are on course to become the filthiest in Europe(Image: Getty Images)<\/p>\nExperts have found English waters are five times more likely to polluted than any in the EU and holidaymakers are less likely to enjoy “excellent” quality waters than in EuropeBritain’s waters are on course to become the filthiest in Europe(Image: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Britain\u2019s swimming waters<\/a> are set to become the filthiest in Europe.<\/p>\n Experts have found English waterways<\/a> are five times more likely to be polluted than those in the EU. They say it is pushing the UK down the path of becoming the \u201cdirty man of Europe\u201d.<\/p>\n Campaign group Best for Britain analysed the quality of bathing waters under UK and EU standards. And a damning report has found that across all four nations of the UK, holidaymakers are less likely to enjoy \u201cexcellent\u201d quality waters than in Europe. England had more bathing waters rated as \u201cpoor\u201d<\/a> quality than any country in the EU.<\/p>\n The research found while 64.2% of England\u2019s bathing waters were rated excellent by the Environment Agency last year, 85.4% of the EU\u2019s were excellent according to the European Environment Agency in the same period.<\/p>\n Naomi Smith, chief executive of Best for Britain, which campaigns for closer ties between the UK and EU, blasted: \u201cPeople are rightly appalled by the disgusting state of the UK\u2019s rivers, lakes and beaches.<\/p>\n \u201cClean water should be guaranteed to all, and no one should have to risk their or their child\u2019s health simply by enjoying a swim or paddle on a sunny day.<\/p>\n \u201cOnce again, when it comes to environmental regulation, enforcement and protecting people\u2019s health, the European Union leads the charge.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is yet more evidence ministers must properly implement and enforce existing standards \u2013 and keep pace as the EU raises the bar in ways that can tangibly benefit millions, as our polling shows voters expect.\u201d<\/p>\n Amy Fairman, head of campaigns at River Action, added: \u201cIt\u2019s outrageous that the UK now sits amongst the worst performing countries for water quality in Europe \u2013 and unless we act, we\u2019ll return to our shameful position as the \u2018dirty man of Europe\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n It comes as the government is changing the UK\u2019s water regulation system, including scrapping the regulator Ofwat after branding it not powerful enough to punish water companies pumping sewage into Britain\u2019s waterways.<\/p>\n![\"Surfing\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/2_Summer-weather-July-31st-2025.jpg\")
England had more bathing waters rated ‘poor’ than any other county in the EU(Image: PA)<\/p>\n![\"Beach\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1_Summer-weather-July-10th-2025.jpg\")
People in the UK are disgusted at the state of British beaches, rivers and seas(Image: PA)<\/p>\n