The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Dan Rogerson)
Today I would like to announce to the House the results of water quality monitoring at England’s popular beaches and lakeside sites during the 2013 bathing season.
Between May and September, the Environment Agency took samples of water at 415 bathing areas that have been designated under the Bathing Water Regulations 2013 to test for compliance with the water quality standards set by the EU bathing water directive.
High-quality bathing water is important both for the health of water users and for our seaside resorts whose economies depend on people’s enjoyment of the beach.
This year a record number of 342 of the 415 bathing waters—over 82%—met the highest standard, known as guideline. Almost 99% have complied with the directive’s mandatory minimum standard. This means that the compliance rate has returned to the level we would expect after last year’s extreme weather conditions. It confirms that investment by water companies and other measures to improve bathing water quality are paying off over the long-term.
Only five sites failed this year—Allonby, Fleetwood, St Annes, Seascale and Instow. Failures to meet the standards are caused by a complex and individual set of circumstances at each bathing water. The main sources of pollution are sewage and animal waste washed into water, particularly during rainfall.
These results are particularly encouraging because we are now only two years away from full implementation of the revised bathing water directive, which will introduce much tighter water quality standards from 2015. If these standards applied now, over 55% would meet the highest “excellent” standard and almost 90% would pass the new minimum standard. I remain committed to all designated waters passing the new minimum standard. Water companies, national and local government, businesses and the wider community have a part to play to ensure we meet the new standards and have beaches that people can enjoy.