Find out the quality of bathing water in your area

Good luck to the muddy waters of Weston-Super-Mare as water testing begins in South West bathing areas.

The Environment Agency monitor sea samples every week between 01 May and the end of September.

A total of 193 bathing waters off the coasts of  Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset will be analysed.

Results are then published allowing the public to decide whether to go into the water or not.

The majority of beaches in the South West reach 98 per cent, meeting current standards.

The Environment Agency is busy tackling pollution, to meet higher water quality targets coming into force in 2015.

Spokesperson for the Environment Agency, Jonathan Ponting says: “Our bathing waters need to meet much tougher standards under the new European Bathing Water Directive everyone has a part to play in improving bathing water quality.”

“Bathing water quality is tremendously good in the South West and has been for several years but there is more work to do to drive further improvements so that beaches will meet the new tougher standards. We are focusing on those beaches which might struggle to meet the new targets and are working with water companies, local authorities and farmers to identify and tackle sources of pollution at all bathing sites.”

Poor quality of bathing water can be caused by a number of sources. To help improvement, the Environment Agency advises the public to stop pouring fat down sinks, avoid putting chemicals down drains and pick up dog poo.

To find out the water quality in your area, visit:  www.environment-agency.gov.uk/bathingwaters