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04/11/2003
UK records cleanest bathing water standards
A record 98.8% of England's bathing waters meet the European standards for 2003, Environment Minister Elliot Morley announced today.
From a total of 411 English bathing areas, 406 passed the main mandatory tests. All of the sites in the Anglian, Thames and Southern regions met the standards this year, 99% in the South West, 97% in the North West and 96% in the North East.
Results for the UK as a whole were the best to date at 98.4%, up from 98% in 2002.
But the government has said that "more improvements are needed" if England and the UK are to meet the tougher standards included in a European Commission proposal to update the Bathing Water Directive and the requirements of the EC Water Framework Directive. This will require action by farmers as well as the water industry, the environment department said.
Mr Morley said: "We must continue to place a greater emphasis on tackling all sources of diffuse pollution, especially livestock and fertilizer from agricultural land, that impact on bathing water quality.
"The particularly dry summer this year has helped to minimise the impact of diffuse pollution flushing through our river catchments out to sea. However, we cannot continue to let our bathing water quality be influenced by the weather in some areas so it is important to address this particular issue".
Ongoing investment totalling £600 million in England and Wales committed up to 2005 is aimed at achieving further improvements in bathing water quality, largely to meet the guideline standards.
It is targeted at more than 100 sewage treatment works and several hundred storm overflows. Further investment is being planned for 2005-2010.
(gmcg)
From a total of 411 English bathing areas, 406 passed the main mandatory tests. All of the sites in the Anglian, Thames and Southern regions met the standards this year, 99% in the South West, 97% in the North West and 96% in the North East.
Results for the UK as a whole were the best to date at 98.4%, up from 98% in 2002.
But the government has said that "more improvements are needed" if England and the UK are to meet the tougher standards included in a European Commission proposal to update the Bathing Water Directive and the requirements of the EC Water Framework Directive. This will require action by farmers as well as the water industry, the environment department said.
Mr Morley said: "We must continue to place a greater emphasis on tackling all sources of diffuse pollution, especially livestock and fertilizer from agricultural land, that impact on bathing water quality.
"The particularly dry summer this year has helped to minimise the impact of diffuse pollution flushing through our river catchments out to sea. However, we cannot continue to let our bathing water quality be influenced by the weather in some areas so it is important to address this particular issue".
Ongoing investment totalling £600 million in England and Wales committed up to 2005 is aimed at achieving further improvements in bathing water quality, largely to meet the guideline standards.
It is targeted at more than 100 sewage treatment works and several hundred storm overflows. Further investment is being planned for 2005-2010.
(gmcg)
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