Record Number of South West Beaches Hit Top Standards

A record number of South West beaches have achieved the highest bathing water standards this year according to a report from Marine Conservation Society (MCS) released today.

The MCS 'Good Beach Guide’ shows that 173 out of 195 (88.7%) South West beaches received the top standard for excellent water quality.

Nationally MCS has recommended 538 out of 734 (73%) UK beaches tested during last summer as having excellent water quality –135 more than the previous year.

MCS Coastal Pollution Officer, Rachel Wyatt, says she hopes the latest figures will be a boost to UK tourism after several previously wet summers which led to a drop in bathing water quality from pollution running into the sea from rural and urban areas and overloaded sewers.

“It’s great news that we are able to recommend more beaches than ever for excellent water quality and it shows just how good British beaches can be,” says Rachel Wyatt. “The main challenge now is maintaining these standards, whatever the weather.

Most people don’t realise what a big impact the weather can have on bathing water quality, but this has really been highlighted in the last few years. 2008, 2009 and 2012 were, according to the Met Office, amongst the wettest summers on record since 1910, and fewer UK bathing waters met minimum and higher water quality standards because of increased pollution running off rural and urban areas and overloaded sewers.”

Despite the good news Instow beach in Devon failed to meet the minimum standard set by the MCS, one of only 14 beaches across the UK.

By the end of the 2015 bathing season, all designated bathing waters must meet the new minimum ‘Sufficient’ standard due to the revised EU Bathing Water Directive.

This will be around twice as stringent as the current minimum standard and means that some beaches will need to do more to make the grade in the future which could include reducing pollution from sewage discharges, agricultural run-off and urban diffuse pollution, fixing mis-connected sewers and putting in place more steps to help dog owners clean up after their pets

The Good Beach Guide's standards, from best to worst water quality:
RECOMMENDED - excellent water quality (Guideline bathing water standards were met, but with the addition that 100% of samples did not exceed 2,000 E.coli per 100ml and sewage discharges are appropriately treated.
GUIDELINE - higher water quality (80% of samples did not exceed 100 E.coli per 100ml and 90% did not exceed 100 intestinal enterococci per 100ml.
MANDATORY - minimum water quality (95% of samples did not exceed 2,000 E.coli per 100ml).
FAIL - Failed mandatory bathing water standard.

RECOMMENDED
Exmouth, Sandy Bay, Sidmouth Jacobs Ladder, Sands Torcross, Slapton Sands Monument, Beer, Seaton, Lynmouth, Combe Martin, Bigbury-on-Sea South, Bantham, Thurlestone North, Thurlestone South, Ilfracombe Hele, Ilfracombe Tunnels Beach, Woolacombe Combesgate Beach, Woolacombe Village, Putsborough, Saunton Sands, Westward Ho!, Hartland Quay, Plymouth Hoe West, Plymouth Hoe East, Bovisand, Wembury, Mothecombe, Challaborough, Bigbury-on-Sea North, Hope Cove, Salcombe South Sands, Salcombe North Sands, Mill Bay, Slapton, Blackpool Sands, St Marys Bay, Breakwater Bay (Shoalstone), Broadstands, Goodrington, Paignton (Preston Sands), Hollicombe, Torre Abbey, Beacon Cove, Meadfoot, Anstey's Cove (Torquay), Babbacombe, Oddicombe, Watcombe, Maidencombe, Ness Cove, Shaldon, Teignmouth Holcombe, Dawlish Coryton Cove, Dawlish Town, Dawlish Warren,

GUIDELINE
Croyde Bay

MANDATORY
Ilfracombe Wildersmouth, Paignton (Paignton Sands), Teignmouth Town, Budleigh Salterton, Ladram Bay, Sidmouth Town

FAIL
Instow