Good news for the UK coastal waters…

Coastal water quality results were announced today for the 2001 UK bathing
season [1] by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)
[2] and the results are the best ever achieved. The Marine Conservation Society
(MCS) [3] is delighted that after many years of campaigning for cleaner bathing
waters the future appears brighter for our coast.

There has been a huge increase in the number of designated bathing waters achieving
the higher EC Guideline standard [4] – from in 256 (47%) 2000 to a total
of 314 (57.5%) in 2001 – in the UK. However a third of beaches (232) do not
reach the Guideline standard, which MCS say must be achieved to protect public
health. A record number have passed the minimum EC Mandatory standard [5] in
2001 – 522 (96%) compared to 514 (94%) for the previous year, and 26 (4.8%)
failed the Mandatory standard.

"The Marine Conservation Society welcomes the improvements in bathing
water quality and applauds all the organisations involved that have helped deliver
these results. But now comes the harder task of ensuring that all sources of
bacterial pollution are tackled, including continuous and intermittent sewage
and storm discharges, and diffuse pollution" said Kate Hutchinson,
MCS Coastal Pollution Officer. "The UK should now be aiming for all
beaches to consistently reach the Guideline standard to adequately protect public
health."

It is hoped that by the end of the investment period in 2005, and with the
additional investigations by the Government Agencies in the UK into diffuse
sources of bacterial pollution [6] these figures will improve even further.
MCS believes that a greater emphasis must be placed on regional and local initiatives
to involve all stakeholders, to inform them of bacterial pollution sources and
transport processes which can affect bathing water quality. MCS recommends that
notices be displayed on beaches when they fail minimum standards and is calling
for greater provision of public information. Greater understanding of the problem
will lead to greater co-operation and better beaches for safe bathing!

Marine Conservation Society, 9 Gloucester Road, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire
HR9 5BU

Tel: 01989 566017 Fax: 01989 567815 Mobile: 07929 972585

Good Beach Guide Home Page: www.goodbeachguide.co.uk

MCS Home Page: www.mcsuk.org