Bathing Waters
The Environment Agency monitor 494 bathing waters, including 9 inland, in England & Wales, 191 (almost 40%) of which can be found in the South West - more than in any other region.
In 2007 368 (80%) bathing waters in England and Wales were clean enough to meet strict European standards, an increase of 48% from 1990. Almost all (99%) bathing waters met minimum (imperative) standards. Despite England and Wales experiencing the wettest summer since 1912, compliance with the mandatory bathing water standard is still better than in the years preceding 2002. Environment Agency, 2007
During 2007, 98.4% of the region’s 191 beaches met the mandatory (Imperative) standard. This is slightly down on 2006 when the region, for the first time, achieved 100% compliance. However, the pass rate remains higher than the 97.8% average in England & Wales. The high summer rainfall caused an increase in storm overflows from sewers, a rise in diffuse pollution and run-off from farmland. This resulted in an increase in pollutants flowing down rivers and streams into some bathing waters. Cloudier weather also meant there was less ultraviolet light which naturally breaks down and destroys potentially harmful bacteria. In Devon and Cornwall three beaches failed the minimum standard, however, those in Somerset and Dorset still managed to achieve 100% mandatory compliance despite the summer downpours. Environment Agency, 2007
A total of 149 (78.4%) of the region’s bathing waters met the more stringent EU (guideline) standard. This is lower than 2006 when nearly 90% of south west beaches achieved guideline status. However, the pass rate in the South West remains higher than the average of 79.8% in England & Wales. Thirty beaches in the region (15.8%) failed to meet these stricter standards, 12 of which were in Devon, 10 in Cornwall, 4 in Somerset, 1 in Dorset and 3 in North Somerset. Environment Agency, 2007
Since 1990, the quality of bathing waters has improved significantly in the South West, as they have done nationally. Improvements are largely due to investment by water companies and the Environment Agency has been working with them to improve the quality of their sewage discharges. Since 1999, the proportion of beaches meeting mandatory standards in the region have increased by almost 10 percentage points and those meeting the stricter guideline standards have improved by 35 percentage points.
More information about bathing water quality is available from the South West Observatory Environment website. Bathing water quality and visitor pressure are also indicators used to monitor progress of the Regional Environment Strategy.