Bathing water quality

• Bathing water quality in the South West improved in 2010, compared to the results in 2009

• In 2010, almost all bathing waters (98%) in England and Wales met mandatory minimum standards (imperative) and 426 (86%) were clean enough to meet European guideline standards which are 20 times more stringent.

• 97.4% of bathing waters in the South West met mandatory standards; 92% meeting the more stringent EU guideline standards.

The South West region has 1000km of coastline and bathing waters are vital to the region's economy, particularly in terms of their contribution to the tourism and leisure industry. Contamination of bathing waters can pose a risk to human health and the environment. Better bathing water quality enhances our enjoyment and could also benefit the local tourist industry, especially our coastal resorts.

The Environment Agency monitor 495 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.

The Environment Agency sample the water quality at each bathing water 20 times during the bathing water season from 15 May to 30 September in England and Wales. Every bathing water is sampled at a designated sample point. There are almost 500 designated bathing waters in England and Wales. The standards measured against are for total coliform and faecal coliform, and additionally faecal streptococci for the guideline standards.

Bathing water quality is one of the Environment Agency's headline indicators

England and Wales

In 2010, almost all bathing waters (98%) in England and Wales met mandatory minimum standards (imperative) and 426 (86%) were clean enough to meet European guideline standards which are 20 times more stringent.

Bathing water quality has improved significantly since 1990. Between 1998 and 2010 the number of bathing waters meeting the European guideline standards increased by a third. This is largely due to water companies investing to improve the quality of their sewage discharges. There has been a small decline in bathing water quality between 2006 and 2008, due mainly to the heavy rain during the summer months. Heavy rain causes more diffuse pollution from agricultural and urban sources, and storm sewage overflows operate more frequently.

Cloudier weather in 2008 also meant there was less ultraviolet light which naturally breaks down and destroys potentially harmful bacteria.

South West bathing water quality

97.4% of bathing waters in the South West met mandatory standards; 92% meeting the more stringent EU guideline standards, the best result since records began.

Bathing water quality has improved significantly since 1990, largely due to water companies investing to improve the quality of their sewage discharges. After the dip in standards last year due to high summer rainfall, this years overall results have improved despite an extremely wet August.

As in 2009 five bathing waters failed to meet the mandatory standard in 2010, these were Lyme Regis (Church), Seaton, Instow and Mothecombe in Devon and Seaton in Cornwall. Sandy Bay in Devon was the only Blue Flag beach in the south west region which failed to meet the required water quality standards during 2010.

• Environment Agency bathing water quality

• What's in your backyard - find out bathing water quality at a beach near you

• Bathing Water Profiles for the South West