English Beach Water Quality at Record High
Date: 10-Nov-05
Country: UK
Environment Minister Elliot Morley said a record number of beaches -- 305 out of 414 -- had passed the European Union's toughest test of the quality of their bathing water and almost 99 percent now met minimum requirements.
"These excellent results show that the 1 billion pounds that has been spent in improving sewage treatment over the last 10 years has paid off," Morley said.
"Over the next five years further improvements are planned across England at sewage treatment works and overflows -- bringing yet more benefits to bathing waters."
The tests check bathing water for its content, such as the number of faecal coliforms, to indicate whether it is contaminated from sewage or other sources.
The government said the figures showed a massive improvement in the quality of bathing water as in the early 1990s less than a third of England's beaches met the toughest EU standards.
The five beaches that failed to reach minimum standards were Newbiggen North and Staithes in the northeast, Instow in the southwest, and Morecambe South and West Kirby in the northwest.
Morley said the improvements would prepare the country for a revised EU bathing water directive which will result in higher quality and health standards.
