The River Thames at Ham, London, is set to become the UK's first designated bathing water site after campaigners showed thousands of people swim there year-round. Marlene Lawrence, founder of the Teddington Bluetits, said, "This would be amazing for the river and for the many people who enjoy it." The status aims to improve river cleanliness by enforcement from the Environment Agency. On the flip side, Thames Water's plan to recycle water near Ham faces challenges due to possible pollution risks. The government has shortlisted 13 new bathing sites across England, including rivers in Devon, Cornwall, Yorkshire, and beaches in Northumberland and Essex. Deborah Meara of Save our Swale highlighted long-time pollution from sewage spills on the River Swale, urging cleaner rivers for the community. Minister Emma Hardy emphasized the importance of safe outdoor swimming spots, saying, "Our plans to designate new bathing water sites show how we are backing local ambition." However, Amy Fairman of River Action warned that water quality remains poor in most inland sites, calling for stricter pollution control and better water company practices. The public can comment on the proposals in a six-week consultation. If approved, total UK bathing water sites will rise to 464.