Help us improve our understanding of your local waterways

Have you visited your local river, lake or beach and noticed other people swimming, paddling or enjoying the water?

Now there's a simple way to help us build a better picture of how these places are used. Citizen scientists are members of the public who voluntarily collect and share information to support scientific research and environmental monitoring. This is where you come in.

BluePrint is a digital tool that lets people record the number of swimmers and other water users they see while they're out and about. You can take part straight from your phone, helping us better understand how England's rivers, lakes and beaches are being enjoyed.

BluePrint is live until April 2027 and the information collected will help create a national picture of how England's bathing waters and other popular water spaces are used throughout the year.

A minute of your time can help make a real difference to the future of our rivers, lakes and beaches.

Anyone can take part.

The next time you're visiting a river, lake or beach, simply use BluePrint on your phone to share what you see. Regular observations from people who frequently visit the same locations are especially valuable, helping us understand how water use changes over time.

By taking part, you'll be helping improve our understanding of local waterways and supporting better environmental decision making.

Developed by the Environment Agency in partnership with Hello Lamp Post, BluePrint builds on the success of WaterWatch, a pilot project that collected public observations at five bathing water sites. We've now expanded the project across England so more people can share what they see when they visit their local waters.

Helping us understand our waterways

England's waterways are constantly changing. While the Environment Agency regularly monitors the health and quality of England's waters, we need more than measurements alone to understand how people use and experience these places.

The data alone doesn't tell the whole story

That's why we're asking people who use these places to share their experiences. By working with citizen scientists and local communities, we can gain a better understanding of when, where and how people use rivers, lakes and beaches across the country.

Every observation helps build a clearer picture of how these important spaces are used and enjoyed.

How can I use BluePrint?

Using your phone, you can:

• Record how many people are using the water or surrounding area
• Tell us what activities people are doing, such as swimming, paddling or relaxing by the water
• Upload photos to help support your observations (Whilst considering people’s privacy)

Because BluePrint uses location technology, it's easy to share information from wherever you are.

Get involved with the conversation here