Yorkshire Water has defended its record on improving water quality in the River Swale after campaigners accused the company of failing to move quickly enough to protect swimmers from sewage pollution.
Save Our Swale (SOS), which campaigns for cleaner rivers in North Yorkshire and beyond, is calling for further investment in sewerage infrastructure around Richmond following the designation of part of the River Swale as an official bathing water earlier this year.
The designated stretch runs from Richmond Falls upstream for about 100 metres and will now be regularly monitored by the Environment Agency (EA) during the bathing season.
SOS, which applied to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for the designation, wants Yorkshire Water to begin any further work required as soon as the site's first water quality classification is confirmed at the end of the 2026 bathing season on September 30.
The group is calling for improvements to three combined sewer overflows affecting the area, upgrades to Richmond's main sewer and sewage treatment works, and greater use of nature-based measures to tackle pollution.
A spokesperson for SOS said: "We understand that the designated site will be issued a classification by the Environment Agency at the end of the 2026 bathing season.
The River Swale
(Image: SUBMIT)
"If this is poor, then an action plan will be generated. But what was the point of us working so hard to secure Designated Bathing Water Status this year if Yorkshire Water can simply delay the necessary work until 2030-2035, citing financial constraints?"
Yorkshire Water disputes the suggestion that it is delaying action.
The company said requirements cited by the group relating to storm overflows affecting bathing waters do not come fully into force until 2035, while investment planned over the next decade is intended to bring relevant overflows, including those upstream of Richmond Falls, up to the required standard.
It added that improvement work around Richmond is already underway.
Miles Cameron, bathing water manager at Yorkshire Water, said: "We care deeply about river water quality and have been working hard to improve the health of the Swale for a number of years - working with local groups, and completing infrastructure upgrades along the length of the river.
"The designation of Richmond Falls as a Bathing Water strengthens this commitment."
Yorkshire Water said there are three storm overflows within 5km of the designated site and projects are already being delivered to reduce discharges from two of them, at Reeth Road and Riverside Road.
The River Swale
(Image: SUBMIT)
The company said improvements had also been completed at The Batts combined sewer overflow in Richmond.
Work is also taking place at Richmond wastewater treatment works to create additional storage for excess wastewater.
Yorkshire Water said the new storage will hold up to 183,000 litres during periods of high flow, allowing wastewater to be returned for full treatment once flows have reduced rather than being discharged.
SOS has also criticised Yorkshire Water's wider environmental performance and the remuneration of chief executive Nicola Shaw.
The group said Yorkshire Water recorded 494 pollution incidents in 2025, which it said represented a 99 per cent increase since 2022, while customers' bills had risen.
It also questioned payments received by Ms Shaw, saying bonuses should reflect environmental performance.
Yorkshire Water said Ms Shaw did not receive a Yorkshire Water bonus in 2025/26.
The company said a £660,000 payment referred to by campaigners was made by parent company Kelda and funded by shareholders, rather than Yorkshire Water customers, and therefore did not reduce funding available for investment.
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Yorkshire Water also said storm overflows are only one of several factors which can affect river water quality.
Mr Cameron said agriculture, wildlife, industry and incorrectly connected private drainage systems can also contribute to pollution.
The company has commissioned an independent assessment of the wider Swale catchment and said further modelling will take place following the bathing water designation.
It is also using monitoring equipment as part of its two-year UnifAI project, which is exploring whether artificial intelligence can help predict river water quality and potentially provide swimmers with more timely information.
The Environment Agency is expected to publish the first classification for the Richmond Falls bathing water following the end of the 2026 bathing season.