A Southampton MP has backed calls for the River Itchen to be granted bathing water status.

On Saturday, Southampton Test MP, Satvir Kaur, joined members of Friends of the Itchen Estuary at its annual community event ‘Toe in the Water,’ at St Deny’s Boathouse.

The event celebrates art, music, and community, brought together by a shared passion of Southampton’s waterways.

Since forming in 2022, Friends of the Itchen Estuary have advocated for better water quality and monies raised from the event will go towards continuing to test the water to determine pollution levels and campaign for better water quality for river users.

It comes as a government consultation on rivers comes to a close. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) consultation has been designed to gather views from a wide range of recreational water users about how the regulations should be updated to reflect how people now use lakes and rivers in England and Wales.

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Proposals include removing fixed season dates from regulations and introducing multiple testing points at bathing water sites.

Currently only swimmers are included in the definition of ‘bathers’, but that could change to include other water sports like rowers and surfers.

Ms Kaur backed bathing water status for the River Itchen in her previous role as leader of Southampton City Council and again supported the idea as she met campaigners in St Deny’s.

She said: “If the designation of what it means to be a ‘bather’ is changed to include water users more generally it could really help in the communities’ efforts in applying for bathing water status for our river, a project that has my full backing and support.

In previous years ‘Toe in the Water’ event goers have been encouraged to take a swim in the river, but not this year.

Organiser Rachel Jones, said: “The levels of sewage are too high and it’s unsafe. Poor water quality isn’t just an environmental disaster but a public health issue.

“Local communities deserve better, and presently things are getting worse.”

Analysis by the Echo shows that since January 1, sewage has flowed into the Itchen for 359 hours.

Ms Kaur added: “Southampton’s waters are one of our city’s greatest assets and everyone should be able to enjoy them, but due to Southern Water’s sewage dumping, local people shouldn’t risk their health every time they want to go into the water.”

Southern Water has said it is investing in its network to reduce spills.