A consultation to reform bathing water regulations has been welcomed by a trust involved in "much-loved" Broad's beauty spot.
Falcon Meadow is a popular site on the banks of the River Waveney in Bungay that welcomes wild swimmers, anglers, kayakers, and families.
The River Waveney Trust was planning to apply for the meadow to become an official "designated bathing water" site this year.
But changes to government rules meant there was no option to apply.
Now, the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs has launched an open consultation to reform bathing water regulations.
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With potential reforms to the bathing water rules, it will be "much more likely" that Falcon Meadow will be designated in the future.
Martha Meek, the director of the River Waveney Trust, said: “We really welcome the government consultation on bathing waters in the UK.
“We believe that everyone should be able to safely use rivers without fear of high levels of pollution, and bathing waters allow river users to make informed choices about whether to get in the water.
“Once an area is designated it also leads to more monitoring and subsequent actions from polluters on cleaning up our rivers – which is long overdue."
The reforms may remove fixed bathing water season dates, monitor water quality in more than one place at the site and remove the automatic de-designation for sites that get a “poor” water quality result for five years.
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The meadow has been designated as a “citizen designated bathing water” by the River Waveney Trust.
The trust tests the water for harmful bacteria once a month over the winter, and once a week over the bathing water season.
The levels have “stayed below dangerous levels” although this is due to the lack of heavy rainfall.
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Katie Utting, who leads on the Bathing Water Project at the River Waveney Trust, said: “We are delighted that a reform to bathing water legislation will take into account a wider range of river users.
“Bungay Sea Scouts and the Waveney Valley Canoe Club are situated right next to the meadow where the Trust hopes to attain bathing water status.
“Understanding potential public health risks to all river users here, not just bathers, is vital.”
To have your say, respond to the consultation before December 23: Reforms to The Bathing Water Regulations 2013
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