Knaresborough Lido on the River Nidd was designated a bathing water in May following longstanding concerns about water quality.

It meant the Environment Agency had to take 20 weekly water samples throughout the summer bathing water season and, if the quality proved to be poor, come up with an action plan.

The results are in — so what have we learned and what happens now?

North Yorkshire Council’s Harrogate and Knaresborough area committee invited representatives from the Environment Agency, Yorkshire Water and North Yorkshire Council to a recent meeting to discuss the issues.

The Environment Agency was represented by Martin Christmas, an operations manager, Claire Campbell, Yorkshire bathing water technical lead and Jamie Duncan, an environmental officer covering the Nidd.

Nathan Lawson, bathing water partnership engagement manager, spoke on behalf of Yorkshire Water and Shaun Berry, North Yorkshire Council’s head of sustainability and environment, also spoke and answered questions.

After a session lasting more than an hour, here are 10 things we learned.

1 Nidd worst bathing water in Yorkshire for faecal bacteria

The Nidd is one of 21 designated bathing waters in Yorkshire. Eighteen are coastal waters, three are inland. Cromwheel in Illkely and Wilderness Car Park at Wetherby on the Wharfe are the other two inland waters. Fifteen of the 20 weekly samples taken for the facecal bacteria E. coli on the Nidd during the bathing season failed to meet the sufficient level. Its readings for this measure were worse than any other Yorkshire bathing water.

2 Agriculture bigger concern than water companies

Yorkshire Water’s 2023 storm overflow reduction plan listed the reasons why bathing waters failed to achieve satisfactory standards. The most popular reasons were: agriculture 40%, water industry 36% and urban and transport 18%. 

3 More bathing waters, no more funding

The Nidd was one of 27 newly designated bathing water sites nationally this year. The Environment Agency is obliged to come up with plans to improve each one, but has no extra funding to do this. Ms Campbell said: “Bringing rivers up to bathing status is going to be a challenge and we do need to work with other stakeholders including farmers, water companies and communities to remove any harmful inputs into the river.”

4 Storm overflow improvements prioritised in Knaresborough

Water companies are required to prioritise storm overflow improvements within five kilometres of bathing water sites. That means Yorkshire Water will prioritise upgrades at three storm overflows at Waterside and one each at Abbey Road, Boroughbridge Road, Spital Croft and Crag Top in Knaresborough in its 2025 to 2030 funding cycle.

5 North Yorkshire Council has no powers

Shaun Berry, the council’s head of sustainability and environment, said it was “important to recognise the council’s role is non-regulatory”. He added since bathing water designation officers had been working collaboratively with the Environment Agency and Yorkshire Water “to use our soft powers to lead, to convene and support partners”.

6 The Nidd could lose its bathing water status even if it doesn’t improve

Currently, bathing waters are automatically de-designated if they are classed as poor for five consecutive years. However, this could change — the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is running a consultation on the 2013 Bathing Water Regulations from November 12 to December 23. Read more here.

7 Water companies fined £1.25 million

Cllr Monika Slater, a Liberal Democrat who represents Bilton Grange and New Park, asked what incentive there was for organisations to improve Nidd water quality. Mr Lawson said Yorkshire Water incurred an annual financial penalty of £1.25 million for each bathing water, although the formula for calculating penalties could change in its 2025-2030 business plan, which it is waiting for water regulator Ofwat's approval. He added that contrary to media reports, water companies did want cleaner rivers.

8 Local councillors demand it’s made a high priority

Cllr Matt Walker, who represents Knaresborough West, which includes the lido, told Yorkshire Water they needed to make Nidd water quality a “high priority”. He added: “The data clearly speaks for itself. The water quality is clearly poor. You (Yorkshire Water) need to take that responsibility and you need to act on that. This is not something that’s new." Fellow Lib Dem Hannah Gostlow, who represents Knaresborough East, raised concerns about the quality of signage warning lido bathers about the risks.

9 It’s complex…

Representatives repeatedly said how complex the issue is and how groups needed to work together rather than just blame water companies. Agriculture was seen as a major factor, particularly in the upper Nidd, and there was talk of encouraging farmers to apply for grants to replace ageing slurry storage infrastructure. Mr Christmas said there was a discussion to be had about how surface water is managed before it enters combined sewers and added: “Ultimately everybody is looking at the water company to sort out what’s happening just before it comes into the river when there may be solutions further upstream that are more sustainable, albeit very much more expensive.”

10 "No clear direction of travel"

We asked David Clayden, chair of Nidd Action Group, which has co-ordinated Nidd clean-up efforts, to respond to the meeting. He said: “There’s a bit more understanding about where the pollution is coming from, but no responsibility taken for the whole picture, and no clear direction of travel.”