Wales has once again published stellar results for its bathing water quality standards, with 99% compliance reached in 2022.

First-time entrants Penarth and Col-Huw beach in the Vale of Glamorgan made their debut by moving straight into the top ranked category, with the former’s application having been submitted by local resident and ‘wild swim’ enthusiast, James Tennet.

Welsh Government is today reminding the public that anyone can put forward their local swimming hotspot for consideration as a designated bathing water, which would see Natural Resources Wales collect and analyse water samples from May to September.

By having applications open to anyone, Welsh Government hopes it will support the boom in cold water swimming popularity that has proven positive benefits for people’s mental and physical health.

Categorised as either ‘Excellent’, ‘Good’, ‘Sufficient’, or ‘Poor’, 85 of the 106 water bodies assessed across Wales achieved top grade. That means that all 22 Blue Flag Award beaches can apply to retain their status for the 2023 bathing season, with Aberporth, Llandonna and Nolton Haven beaches also achieving an ‘excellent’ classification, an improvement on last year’s results.

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) visited all 106 designated bathing water sites and collected and analysed water quality samples throughout the 2022 bathing season. While 85 of the 106 water bodies assessed achieved top grades, Marine Lake in Rhyl, an artificial lake used mainly for water sports, is the only site to be classified as poor.

Clare Pillman, Chief Executive of Natural Resources Wales said: "Wales has some of the best beaches and bathing waters in the UK. They’re incredibly important to us – boosting tourism and local economies, enhancing the health and wellbeing of our communities and supporting rich biodiversity and ecosystems.

"We’re incredibly proud of the improvements we’ve seen in our bathing waters in recent decades, and to see the majority of our bathing waters again this year meeting the excellent criteria.

"But we know there is more to be done. Climate change, pollution and the way we live our lives are all challenges facing our waters, and we must take a Team Wales approach if we are to achieve our ambition of delivering the waters we want for current and future generations."