The Environment Agency has resumed seasonal water quality testing at more than 400 popular bathing waters across England.

Last year, water quality remained high with 97.9% of bathing waters in England meeting the tough standards - 92.4% of these locations achieved the top rating of Excellent or Good, meaning visitors to the seaside have 388 top-rated coastal and inland bathing waters to choose from.

The Environment Agency tests water quality at every official bathing water to ensure it is maintained and improved. Beach-goers can check the water quality at their nearest bathing water spot by visiting the Environment Agency’s Bathing Water Data Explorer website. The regular monitoring supports ongoing work to maintain and improve water quality supporting the government’s 25 Year Environment Plan.

The Environment Agency works on an ongoing basis with water companies, councils and local communities to keep beaches clean, reduce pollution and protect the environment.

Helen Wakeham, Head of Water Quality at the Environment Agency, said that water quality had improved at English beaches over the last two decades, describing it as “a testament to the work of Environment Agency staff, water companies, local authorities, farmers, volunteers and NGOs.”

Pollution from sewage and pollution from agriculture are generally recognised as the two most significant sources but there are some local variations.

At some beaches pollution from farm run-off has an impact on water quality. Surveys have shown that around a third of bathing water pollution is caused by agriculture. In 2018 new farming rules for water were brought in. The weather often has the greatest short-term influence on water quality. Heavy rain washes pollution off urban areas and rural land into rivers and the sea which causes a temporary dip in water quality

Over the last twenty years water quality has improved. In the early 1990s, just 28 per cent of bathing waters would have met the highest standards and last year 92.4% achieved Excellent or Good.

The Environment Agency said it will continue to collaborate and drive improvements nationally and look for local solutions to achieve the goal in the government’s 25 Year Plan to further reduce the bacteria in bathing waters by 2030.

Water companies have invested over £2.5 billion on projects that have improved water at swimming beaches. The utilities have signed up to Environment Agency proposals to improve 24 bathing waters between 2020-2025.