Water Quality Ratings Poor for Recently Designated Swimming Locations

Data indicates that two out of five recently designated official swimming locations in Devon did not achieve satisfactory water quality standards. Steamer Quay on the River Dart and Coastguards Beach on the River Erme received a poor water quality grade in 2024. The other three classifications – sufficient, good, and excellent – were assigned to the remaining three sites: Stoke Gabriel, Dittisham, and Warfleet, all situated on the Dart. These five locations received their designation in May, leading to weekly testing by the Environment Agency throughout the summer period. Porthluney, located near St Austell, was the sole additional site in Devon and Cornwall to be classified as poor. Monitoring conducted by the Environment Agency on designated bathing waters during the official swimming season, from May to September, indicated that 8.2% of these waters, totaling 37 sites, received a “poor” rating for water quality in 2024. Among 450 English bathing waters subjected to regular testing for harmful bacteria, 91.8% fulfilled at least the minimum requirements for clean water, and 64.2% achieved excellent standards, according to the data. The percentage of sites that did not meet minimum water quality standards and were consequently rated as poor almost doubled from 4.3% in the previous year. This figure represents the highest recorded since the current rating system’s inception in 2015, concurrently with a slight decrease in the percentage of sites classified as good and excellent. According to officials, this outcome was partly attributable to the pre-existing water quality of 27 new bathing sites designated at the season’s commencement, with 18 of these receiving a poor rating during their initial year of testing. These statistics emerge during a consultation process concerning a potential overhaul of the system, which proposes eliminating the fixed summer season to accommodate the growing popularity of cold water swimming. Giles Bristow, chief executive of Surfers Against Sewage, stated that the bathing water classification regime “isn’t just inadequate, it’s misleading and needs radical reform”. He pointed to Trevaunance Cove in Cornwall, which, despite achieving an excellent rating in this year’s findings, showed consistently elevated pollution levels in a stream flowing onto a beach during community testing. Mr. Bristow emphasized: “The consultation to reform the regulations is vital and must deliver a year-round bathing season, with year-round testing.” “We need multiple monitoring points and testing for a wide range of pollutants.” James Wallace, chief executive of River Action, described the results as an “international embarrassment”. He commented: “The government’s own data shows that swimming in our inland bathing sites poses serious health risks, highlighting the failure of regulators to protect waterways from polluters.” Water Minister Emma Hardy stated: “These figures are unacceptable and show that too many of our popular swimming spots are polluted.” She added that the government is implementing special measures for water companies via the Water Bill, which aims to enhance industry regulation, and has initiated a significant review of the water sector. Follow BBC Cornwall on X, Facebook and Instagram. Follow BBC Devon on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.