Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of a different classification system for lake ecosystems.

In the Bathing Water Regulations 2013, ‘Schedule 5, classification’ shows there are already different standards for inland waters and for coastal and transitional waters when measuring E coli and intestinal enterococci. This means there are varying classifications of water quality thresholds depending on pathogen levels in place at different locations, recognising the distinct natural characteristics and hydrodynamics that exist in different water environments.

The SI that was laid 28 October and due to come into force 21 November this year will not change this.