Think before you dip!

Wild swimming, sunscreen and keeping the River Kent healthy

There’s nothing quite like taking a dip in a river on a warm summer’s day. For many of us, wild swimming is one of the simplest ways to enjoy the outdoors.

But when we enter a natural watercourse, we’re guests in an ecosystem and that means thinking about what we take into the water with us.

Sunscreen, moisturiser, shampoo, conditioner, insect repellent and other personal-care products can contain substances that can enter natural waters.

Research has found UV filters from sunscreens in surface waters, including freshwater environments. Some UV filters can persist in the environment, while laboratory studies have found potential effects on aquatic organisms. However, the environmental risks vary between different ingredients and circumstances, and there is still much we don't know about their effects in real-world freshwater ecosystems.

That doesn't mean you should stop protecting your skin from the sun. Instead, it’s about making thoughtful choices when you know you're going to be swimming in a natural environment.

In June 2026, France's Parc national des Pyrénées introduced a ban on swimming and other activities involving immersion in lakes and small mountain lakes within the park's core area.

The National Park says increasing visitor numbers could threaten water quality through organic and chemical pollution, specifically identifying substances including soap, sunscreen and mosquito repellent. The restrictions are also intended to protect sensitive wildlife and reduce disturbance.

It's a useful reminder that when large numbers of people use fragile natural environments, the products we bring with us can become an environmental consideration.

The simplest approach is to leave as little behind as possible.

 Think before you dip — if you know you're going swimming, consider what you've put on your skin beforehand.

 Protect your skin wisely — use sunscreen when you need it, but consider the ingredients and formulation when choosing products for use around natural water.

Check the ingredients — mineral sunscreens commonly use zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, while other sunscreens use organic UV filters. No sunscreen should automatically be assumed to be completely harmless to aquatic ecosystems, so avoid unnecessary products entering the water wherever practical.

There's another important way swimmers can help protect our rivers: biosecurity.

When moving between different rivers, lakes or other watercourses, footwear, swimwear and equipment can accidentally carry aquatic plants, animals, mud or disease-causing organisms with them.

CHECK your footwear, swimwear, equipment and flotation aids for mud, plants, animals or other material.

CLEAN everything thoroughly after leaving the water.

DRY your equipment completely before using it somewhere else.

Following Check, Clean, Dry helps reduce the risk of spreading invasive species and aquatic diseases between our waterways.

Wild swimming allows us to experience the River Kent and its surroundings at their most natural. But the wildlife living in and around the river doesn't get to choose what enters its habitat.

The cleaner we can keep the River Kent, the better it is for the insects, plants, fish, birds and other wildlife that depend on it and for all of us who love spending time beside it.

Think before you dip - Protect your skin. Protect the river. Check, Clean, Dry. Leave no trace.