Harrington Bathing Waters Consultation

Proposal to designate Harrington as a designated bathing water

Bathing waters are beaches, lakes or ponds that are popular with bathers and have been designated under the Bathing Waters Directive. The Bathing Waters Directive mandates that bathing waters are monitored for levels of intestinal enterococci and E. coli during the bathing water season. The bathing water season runs from 15th May to 30th September.

What does it mean if a bathing water is designated?

If a bathing water is designated, sampling for compliance with the Bathing Waters Directive standards would commence and there may be investment specifically directed at meeting these bathing water standards. As a result, there would be a legal requirement for public information about bathing water quality to be provided. The Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive and general environmental quality standards under the Water Framework Directive and Marine Strategy Framework Directive would continue to apply. Designation as a bathing water would be granted not to have an impact on other wildlife or other nature organisations.

Therefore, during the 2025 English Bathing Season, Cumberland Council Environmental Health Department are to complete a series of user surveys at this location.

More information on the designation process of a bathing water and the actions required are available on the GOV website.

We would therefore welcome any comments or queries regarding designation if Cumberland Council are successful in granting designation of Harrington Bathing Water.

Any comments or questions are welcomed by responding to this letter or via the email address provided.

Please send any comments on this local consultation by Tuesday 30 September 2025 to: environmental.health@cumberland.gov.uk

Or via post to the:

Environmental Health Department, Cumberland Council, Allerdale House, Workington, Cumbria, CA14 3YJ.