The Environment Agency continues to broadcast the government's false claim that over 98% of the United Kingdom's bathing waters reach the imperative mandatory microbiological standards required by the 1975 76/160/EC Bathing Waters Directive, as shown by the following December 2006 Press Announcement, to be found at www.defra.gov.uk/news/2006/061109a.htm which reads as follows:
"2006 bathing water results - record mandatory compliance in England and the UK"
"England's best ever bathing water quality results were announced on 9 November by Environment Minister, Ian Pearson.
"In 2006, a record 99.5% of all bathing waters in England met the mandatory standards required by the Bathing Water Directive, compared to 98.8% in 2005. Only 2 of England's 413 monitored bathing waters failed to reach the minimum standards. These were Staithes and Hampstead Heath Ladies Pond. ....The overall UK mandatory (99.5%) and guideline (75.0%) compliance figures were also at record highs in 2006. Both Scotland and Northern Ireland achieved 100% mandatory compliance and Wales had just one failing water. ............"
Scrutiny of the results placed on the Environment Agency's web site shows a very different story. This gives the full unedited and uncensored analytical findings from which one can calculate the precise EC Bathing Waters Directive mandatory standard 'pass', 'fail' or 'unproven' status for each resort. The Minister's claim is shown as unfounded.
The reason is that the results provided for public and press consumption have been based upon compliance with only two of the four required mandatory microbiological parameters, these being total coliforms and faecal coliforms, the indicator bacteria.
As in previous years, findings of the far more dangerous salmonella and enterovirus pathogens have been ignored. These pathogens must be shown to be absent for a bathing water to conform to the European Bathing Water Directory Mandatory standard. For a full a full description and list of these bacterial and viral pathogens, see the bacterial and pathogen section on this website under www.marinet.org.uk/ukbw/sewage.html
In order to further camouflage the number of failures, only rarely have the Environment Agency investigated the presence of these pathogens.
The deception practised is such that by not looking for them it is inferred that they were not found, and thus that they must be absent. This is similar to a person claiming to have passed an examination when they have not sat it, saying, "Well, we didn't fail, so we must have passed!" Despite protests over the past ten years against this deception, the United Kingdom authorities have again based compliance for 2007 on a standard of their own making, one which is seriously short of that demanded by the actual 76/160/EEC Bathing Waters Directive.
These flawed claims are widely publicised without inspection or checking by the media, and are claimed as being the compliance of the United Kingdom resorts to the actual standards required by the EC Directive.
These false claims are never corrected nor denied by DEFRA or the Environmental Agency, but are freely allowed to be used as propaganda by the government and the water companies in an attempt to justify their claims to have made major improvements in tackling the sewage pollution of British bathing waters. It is true that over the past few years major improvements have been made in an effort to comply with the more recent Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, but not nearly sufficient to meet the level demanded by the 76/160/EEC Bathing Waters Directive.
Consequently, a major discrepancy exists between what the public is being told to believe and the true qualifying status of the UK's bathing waters.
This poses a serious threat to health as many of the questionable beaches fly Seaside Awards and Blue Flags issued by the Tidy Britain Group. The rules for awarding Seaside Award flags are that they are given to resorts passing the mandatory standards of the EC Bathing Waters Directive. In the past some flags have flown at resorts that failed the microbiological mandatory requirements of the Directive, and also at many more that have not been tested for the presence of the two most infective mandatory pathogens of all - enteroviruses and salmonella!
The listing that follows below gives the true 2007 EC mandatory compliance or failure and reveals, in the overwhelming number of cases, the failure to properly test for all four imperative microbiological parameters as demanded by the Directive.
The listing is made from the actual analytical findings reported by the Environmental Agency of samples taken between May and September of the previous year. The Public Register of the Environmental Agency's regional findings is available on their Internet Web Site (see footnote 1).
To pass the current Directive mandatory standard, a bathing water must have no more than 5% of the samples (1 of the 20) showing either more than 10,000 total coliforms per 100ml, or 2,000 faecal coliforms per 100ml. This, and this alone, is what DEFRA's claimed passes are based upon. However, what is withheld from knowledge in the United Kingdom is that the Directive also demands that in order to meet the imperative mandatory standard the bathing water must also have a complete absence of both enteroviruses and salmonella.
A single finding of either enteroviruses or salmonella over the whole previous year's sampling fails the resort against the imperative mandatory standard, as it is these pathogens, not the coliforms, that are responsible for most of the illnesses associated with bathing in sewage polluted waters. They are not investigated because of the cost involved in doing so. Yet, although on a different budget, that cost imposed to the NHS and public health is far greater!
To spot the factual mandatory compliance of a resort which is claimed to pass, look on the Environment Agency Web Site for the columns under enteroviruses and salmonella.
If you see dashes all the way down the list of twenty findings, then that resort has not been fully tested, so the compliance is unknown, and thus cannot be claimed as a 'pass'.
If you see a '0' or '<1' then it has been tested, and no salmonella or enteroviruses were found to be present. As those few resorts which were tested rarely had more than two tests in the course of the entire year, a pass for these is doubtful. However, we have given these the benefit of the doubt and awarded a 'pass'.
If on the other hand a figure greater than '0' (e.g. 1, 2, etc.) is in the column, then enteroviruses or salmonella were proved to have been present, and hence those resorts are proven to have failed.
It is on this basis, strictly in accordance with the stipulations of the 1975 76/160/EC Bathing Water Directive, that the following qualified list of compliances can be given.
This listing provides a factual PASS, FAIL or an 'UNKNOWN' for every designated UK bathing water according to the actual standards required by the 76/160/EC Bathing Water Directive itself.
False compliance claims for our bathing waters have been ongoing for more than twenty years now, despite evidence of the malpractice supplied to House of Commons Environmental and DETR Committee Enquiries in 1989/90 and in 1997.
The House of Commons Environmental Committee Enquiry into the Disposal of Sewage pointed out the pollution hazard resulting from the Government's "interpretation" of the standards, yet exactly the same false claims of EC compliance have continued unabated under successive governments.
Indeed, the DG-XI Legal Department of the European Commission has taken actions against the UK Government for its failure to comply until recently with the indicator microbiological standards (total coliforms and faecal coliforms) of the Directive.
In answer to a recent question in the European Parliament, the EC Commissioner agreed that, in the strictest terms, the presence of salmonella or enterovirus also fails a resort against the imperative mandatory standard of the Directive - a standard which should have been reached by January 1986. However, the EC government continues to fail to take action against the UK over this continuing deception.
Available on the Environment Agency web site www.environment-agency.gov.uk (see footnote), and also given here, are the recommended guideline conformities.
To meet this guideline, non-mandatory standard bathing waters must show no more than 100 faecal coliforms, 100 faecal streptococci or 500 total coliforms per 100 ml in more than 20% of the samples taken, i.e. not more than four failures of the twenty taken throughout the May to September bathing season. The EA site has a simplified listing of each of the twenty samples per site listed as 'Poor', 'Good' or 'Excellent'. If more than sixteen are shown as 'excellent' it passes. If less, it fails.
But for the imperative mandatory standard to be met, not more than one sample of the twenty coliform tests made throughout the year may be 'poor'; and, in the strictest terms, there should also be a total absence of any salmonella or enterovirus.
As well as the qualifying status of a Bathing Water in accordance with the actual terms of the EC Directive as given here, and as well the UK government's own "version" of qualifying status, it must be noted that there is another set of findings and qualifying status which is employed by the Marine Conservation Society in their 'Good Beach Guide'.
The Marine Conservation Society pass a bathing water only if all twenty of the faecal and total coliform meet the mandatory value, but, rather surprisingly, they too ignore the status for both salmonella or enterovirus.
Scottish Bathing Water Resorts Guide For 2007
| Beach Resort | Total Coliforms | Faecal Coliforms | Salmonella | Enterovirus | Mandatory Status | Guideline Conformity |
| Southerness | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Sandyhills | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Rockcliffe | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Brighouse Bay | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Carrick | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Girvan | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Turnberry | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Ayr (South) | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Prestwick | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Troon (South) | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Irvine | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Saltcoats | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Largs | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Millport | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Luss Bay | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Ettrick Bay | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Machrihanish | Only 10 tests done | so no compliance | ||||
| Ganavan | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Morar Beach | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Dunnet Bay | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Dornoch (Caravan Park) | Only 5 tests done | so no compliance | ||||
| Dores, Loch Ness | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Nairn Central | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Nairn East | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Cullen | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Inverboyndie | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Rosehearty | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Fraserburgh (Tigerhill) | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Fraserburgh Philorth | Only 10 tests done | so no compliance | ||||
| Peterhead Lido | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Cruden Bay | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Balmedie (Pillbox) | Only 5 tests done | so no compliance | ||||
| Aberdeen Ballroom | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Stonehaven Carron | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Montrose | Only 5 tests done | so no compliance | ||||
| Arbroath (West Links) | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Carnoustie | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Broughty Ferry | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| St.Andrews (W.Sands) | Only 11 tests done | so no compliance | ||||
| St.Andrews (E.Sands) | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Kingsbarns | Only 6 tests done | so no compliance | ||||
| Crail (Roome Bay) | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Elie (Ruby Bay & Harbour) | Only 10 tests done | so no compliance | ||||
| Shell Bay | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Kinghorn (Pettycur) | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Burntisland | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Aberdour (Silver Sands) | Only 10 tests done | so no compliance | ||||
| Portobello West | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Portobello Central | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Seton Sands | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Longniddry | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Gullane | Only 6 tests done | so no compliance | ||||
| Yellowcraigs | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| North Berwick West | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| North Berwick (Milsey Bay) | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Dunbar (Bellhaven) | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Dunbar East | Only 6 tests done | so no compliance | ||||
| Whitesands | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Thorntonloch | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Pease Bay | Only 5 tests done | so no compliance | ||||
| St.Abbs | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Coldingham | Only 5 tests done | so no compliance | ||||
| Eyemouth | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
SEPA, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency on their website www.sepa.org.uk/data/bathingwaters/interpretation.htm state:
"How Results are determined - Interpretation of Results and Requirements for Monitoring Programmes"
"The Annex to the EC Bathing Water Directive contains information on the requirements for monitoring programmes. It lists the 19 parameters and values which apply to identified bathing waters and states how results should be interpreted. These requirements have been implemented in Scotland by the Bathing Waters (Classification) (Scotland) Regulations 1991. The Directive contains information on two main types of values for water quality standards: mandatory standards which Member States must observe, and stricter guideline values which Member States should endeavour to observe."
"Mandatory Standards"
"Mandatory standards apply to 10 parameters: total coliforms, faecal coliforms, salmonella, enteroviruses, pH, colour, mineral oils, detergents, phenols and transparency. Compliance with the Directive's mandatory standards is based on the counts of total coliforms and faecal coliforms. 95% of samples must comply with the Directive's mandatory standards for both parameters for the site to achieve a pass at this level."
Relating the above statements to the actual sampling and findings shows the claims for mandatory compliance to be highly inaccurate.
For the year 2004 status, based on the 2003 bathing season findings by SEPA, Scotland's (then) 58 resorts showed two proven passes, three proven failures and 53 resorts of unknown mandatory conformity.
At the time (2004), a discrepancy was shown between the salmonella and enterovirus tests given on SEPA's web site and those provided by them directly by e-mail which stated that 5 resorts were tested for salmonella and 5 for enteroviruses, albeit only once or twice throughout the entire year. However that was an improvement on the previous year when not a single test for either pathogen was conducted throughout the entire year.
Sadly SEPA seem to have returned to this failure to fully monitor, as we now have 63 resorts, not one of which has been monitored for salmonella or enterovirus; indeed, 13 of these resorts failed to have the requisite 20 coliform tests throughout the year.
Thus now in 2007 not a single Scottish bathing water has been proved to pass the imperative mandatory standard that had to be met by 1985.
And of the 63 bathing waters listed, 22 were proven to have passed the guideline standard, 28 were proven failures, and the remaining 13 of unknown guideline conformity due to an insufficiency of tests throughout the bathing season.
Northumbrian Region Bathing Water Resorts Guide For 2007
| Beach Resort | Total Coliforms | Faecal Coliforms | Salmonella | Enterovirus | Mandatory Status | Guideline Conformity |
| Spittal | PASS | FAIL | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Bamburgh Castle | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Seahouses | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| North Beadnell | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Low Newton | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Warkworth | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Amble Links | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Druridge Bay | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Newbiggin North | PASS | FAIL | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Newbiggin South | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Blyth South | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Seaton Sluice | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Whitley Bay | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Cullercoats | PASS | FAIL | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Tynemouth Long Sands North | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Tynemouth Long Sands South | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Tynemouth King Edward Bay | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| South Shields | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Marsden | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Whitburn South/Roker | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Seaham Beach | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Seaham Remand Home | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Crimdon | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Seaton Carew North | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Seaton Carew Centre | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Redcar Coatham | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Redcar Granville | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Redcar Lifeboat Station | PASS | FAIL | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Redcar Stray | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Marske Sands | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Saltburn | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
In 2005 the Environment Agency's tests at Northumbrian's 33 resorts showed not a single proven EC full mandatory standard pass, two proven failures and the remaining 31 of unknown status.
In 2006 (2007 status) we see 31 resorts, no passes, four faecal coliform failures and the remaining 27 resorts to be of unknown mandatory conformity. This is due to the failure of the Environmental Agency to test for the presence of all the required imperative parameters.
In 2005 there was just one test for salmonella, which passed, and only two for enteroviruses, both of which failed. In 2006 (2007 status) not a single test was made for either of these two pathogens.
Following our formal complaint to the EC, the UK government marginally improved the level of required testing. It instructed the Environment Agency that resorts failing either microbiological indicator test (Total coliforms and Faecal coliforms) during the previous year must be tested for both salmonella and enteroviruses in the following year. Even this half measure has been ignored.
Thus, the 2007 mandatory status of every resort has to be 'unknown' apart from the four proven failures, as no proven passes whatsoever resulted. The guideline compliance was passed at 26 places, an improvement on the previous year.
Yorkshire Region Bathing Water Resorts Guide For 2007
| Beach Resort | Total Coliforms | Faecal Coliforms | Salmonella | Enterovirus | Mandatory Status | Guideline Conformity |
| Staithes | FAIL | FAIL | PASS | PASS | FAIL | FAIL |
| Runswick Bay | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Sandsend | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Whitby | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Robin Hoods Bay | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Scarborough North Bay | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Scarborough South Bay | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Cayton Bay | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Filey | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Reighton | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Flamborough N. Landing | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Flamborough S. Landing | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Danes Dyke, Flamborough | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Bridlington N Beach | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Bridlington S Beach | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Wilsthorpe | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Fraisthorpe | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Barmston | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Skipsea | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Hornsea | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Tunstall | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Withernsea | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
Of Yorkshire's 23 resorts, the net result of the 2003 analyses that gave the status for 2004 showed that two resorts failed, none were seen to pass and that 21 of Yorkshire's bathing waters were of unknown mandatory conformity.
For this year we see only 21 resorts, and again no passes. Staithes is still failing, whilst the remainder are all of unknown conformity. Fifteen met the guideline compliance, some very narrowly, six failed. Earls Dyke, previously listed, had no tests performed whatsoever again this year, so it is still completely of unknown status.
Anglian Region Bathing Water Resorts Guide For 2007
| Beach Resort | Total Coliforms | Faecal Coliforms | Salmonella | Enterovirus | Mandatory Status | Guideline Conformity |
| Cleethorpes | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Mablethorpe Town | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Sutton-on-Sea | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Moggs Eye | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Anderby | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Chapel St Leonard | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Ingoldmells South | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Skegness | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Heacham | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Hunstanton Main Beach | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Hunstanton Beach | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Wells | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Sheringham | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Cromer | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Mundesley | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Sea Palling | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Hemsby | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Caister Point | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Gt Yarmouth North | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Gt Yarmouth Pier | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Gorleston Beach | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Lowestoft North | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Lowestoft South | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Southwold The Pier | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Southwold The Denes | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Felixstowe North | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Felixstowe South | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Dovercourt | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Walton | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Frinton | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Holland | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Clacton | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Clacton (Groyne 41) | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Jaywick | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Brightlingsea | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| West Mersea | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
The tests carried out by the Environment Agency in 2003 (indicating the Anglian Region resorts 2004 status) evidenced that not a single one of the regions then 37 resorts was tested for all four of the mandatory microbiological parameters as required by the EC Directive. Thus we then had no resorts proved to fail, none proved to pass, and all unproven.
The following year (i.e. 2004, which indicates 2005 status) we have four resorts proven to pass, three to fail with the remainder of unknown status.
Now again for 2007 we see a total failure to investigate for either enteroviruses or salmonella at any of the current 36 bathing waters. Consequently, contrary to the claims made to the media of 'a full set of passes', in truth not a single Anglian Region resort is proven to comply.
Seven resorts failed the recommended Guideline standard, compared to the previous year when just five failed.
It is a great delight to see Cleethorpes and Gorleston-on-Sea now passing the guideline standard, as not many years ago swimming there was more akin to going through the motions.
Thames Region Bathing Water Resorts Guide For 2007
| Beach Resort | Total Coliforms | Faecal Coliforms | Salmonella | Enterovirus | Mandatory Status | Guideline Conformity |
| Shoebury East | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Shoeburyness | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Southend Thorpe Bay | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Southend Jubilee | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Southend 3 Shells | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Southend Westcliff Bay | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Southend Chalkwell | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Leigh Bell Wharf | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
At one time, the Thames Environmental Agency (previously the National Rivers Authority and prior to that Thames Water) was the only authority in the entirety of the United Kingdom to fully and properly investigate the bathing waters of their area for true Directive mandatory compliance, even identifying the specific enteroviruses present, e.g. polio.
Sadly, after 1995, they acquiesced to the direction made to the Environment Agency by the Department of the Environment to reduce its sampling frequency for salmonella and enteroviruses.
The result was that the 2004 samples (giving the 2005 status) showed just one proven pass, no failures and seven of unknown mandatory conformity.
The following year the Environmental Agency sampling programme performed no tests whatsoever for these pathogens. So we had no passes, no failures, and eight resorts of unknown conformity. However five of these bathing resorts passed the recommended guideline values, with one, Shoebury East, doing so excellently, and two other resorts only barely.
For 2007 we again see that no tests for salmonella or enteroviruses were conducted in 2006. So we have none of the eight bathing waters passing, none failing, but of course eight resorts of unknown conformity. All but two passed the Guideline requirements.
Southern Region Bathing Water Resorts Guide For 2007
| Beach Resort | Total Coliforms | Faecal Coliforms | Salmonella | Enterovirus | Mandatory Status | Guideline Conformity |
| Sheerness | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Leysdown | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| West Beach Whitstable | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Herne Bay Central | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Herne Bay | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Westgate Bay | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Margate The Bay | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Margate Fulsam Rock | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Walpole Bay | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Botany Bay | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Joss Bay | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Stone Bay | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Broadstairs | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | PASS | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Ramsgate Main Sands | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Ramsgate | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Sandwich Bay | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Deal Castle | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| St Margarets Bay | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Folkstone | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Sandgate | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Hythe | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Dymchurch | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| St Marys Bay | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Littlestone | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Camber | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Winchelsea | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Hastings | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| St Leonards | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Bexhill | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Norman's Bay | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Pevensey Bay | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Eastbourne | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Birling Gap | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Seaford | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Saltdean | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Brighton | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Hove | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Southwick | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| South Lancing | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Worthing | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Littlehampton | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Middleton-on-sea | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Felpham | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Bognor Regis East | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Bognor Regis | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Pagham | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Selsey | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Bracklesham Bay | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| West Wittering | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| West of Eastoke | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| West Beachlands | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| West Hayling | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Eastney | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Southsea | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Calshot | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Lepe | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Milford-on-sea | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Christchurch Bay | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Highcliffe | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Compton Bay IoW | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Totland Bay IoW | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Colwell Bay IoW | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Gurnard IoW | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Cowes IoW | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Ryde IoW | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Seagrove IoW | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| St Helens IoW | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Bembridge IoW | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Whitecliff Bay IoW | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Sandown IoW | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Shanklin IoW | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
In the 1997 bathing season the Southern Environment Agency analysed every one of their then 75 resorts (albeit only twice in the entire year) for both salmonella and enteroviruses, so proving that 40 of their bathing waters then met the imperative mandatory EC standard, whilst 35 proved to fail. No bathing waters whatsoever remained of unknown conformity.
In 1998, undoubtedly to mask these failures, Southern EA promptly complied with the government's direction to reduce sampling for salmonella and enteroviruses, so only investigated for these pathogens at eight resorts of the Southern region's then 77 bathing waters, thus replacing what would have likely been many proven failures with an 'unknown' mandatory compliance.
The 2000 sampling, for the 2001 status, showed that only seven resorts were tested for salmonella and just six for enterovirus, so producing five resorts proven to pass, two failures and 72 resorts of unknown EC mandatory compliance from the then 79 bathing waters.
The 2001 sampling, for the 2002 status, showed only three resorts tested for salmonella and three for enteroviruses.
The 2002 analyses, for the 2003 status, showed only one test for salmonella and two for enteroviruses, both of which failed. Overall, the 2002 analyses showed two proven passes and two proven failures, with the other 75 of questionable status.
The 2003 sampling, for 2004 status, showed two failures, no passes whatsoever and 77 of unknown conformity, and there was just one properly tested resort, Worthing, which passed for salmonella but failed on enteroviruses. Thus we had one failure, no passes and all the others incompletely tested, hence of questionable conformity.
In the 2004 testing, for 2005 status, we saw 77 bathing waters listed, all with no tests whatsoever for either enteroviruses or for salmonella, so producing not a single mandatory pass, just one proven (coliform) failure and 76 of unknown mandatory conformity. Also fourteen resorts failed the guideline level, and forty-one only just made this grade. Just nine of them showed an excellent pass.
Now in the 2006 sampling, for 2007 status, not a single test was made for either salmonella or enteroviruses, so giving all of the region's 71 resorts unknown compliance, although all were claimed by the government to be of mandatory conformity. The 2006 sampling also showed that under the guideline standard conformities were 50, with 21 resorts failing. This was a slight degradation on the performance of previous years.
South-West (Wessex) Bathing Water Resorts Guide For 2007
| Beach Resort | Total Coliforms | Faecal Coliforms | Salmonella | Enterovirus | Mandatory Status | Guideline Conformity |
| Christchurch Highcliffe Castle | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Christchurch Friars Cliff | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Christchurch Avon Beach | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Christchurch Mudeford Sandbank E | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Bournemouth Hengistbury W | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Bournemouth Southbourne | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Bournemouth Fishermans Walk | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Bournemouth Boscombe Pier | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Bournemouth Pier | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Bournemouth Durley Chine | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Bournemouth Alun Chine | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Branksome Chine | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Poole Shore Road Sandbanks | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Poole Sandbanks Carpark | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Poole Harbour Lake | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Poole Harbour Rockley Sands | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Shell Bay North | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Studland Knoll House | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Swanage Central | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Kimmeridge Bay | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Lulworth Cove | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Durdle Door East | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Durdle Door West | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Bowleaze Cove | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Weymouth Lodmoor | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Weymouth Central | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Portland Harbour Castle Cove | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Portland Harbour Sandsfoot Castle | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Church Ope Cove | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Hive | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| West Bay (West) | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Eypemouth | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Seatown | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Charmouth West | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Porlock Weir | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Minehead Terminus | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Dunster North West | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Blue Anchor West | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Burnham Jetty | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Berrow North of Unity Farm | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Brean | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Weston s Mare Uphill Slipway | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Weston Main | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Weston s Mare Sand Bay | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Clevedon Beach | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
The pathetic record of failing to test for all four required mandatory microbiological parameters resulted in unknown conformity for 42 of the 47 Wessex resorts for 2001.
It was similar the next year when the Wessex region showed just one proven pass, four proven failures and 42 bathing waters with a big question mark hanging over them.
The following year saw 45 of undetermined compliance, two proven failures and not one pass.
For 2004 we saw just one proven failure at Blue Anchor West and again not one proven pass! Not a single one of the region's bathing waters was tested for either enteroviruses or salmonella.
For 2005 there were no mandatory passes, no failures, with every resort of unknown compliance! However there were 39 passes against the recommended guideline value, twelve of these excellent, fourteen very narrowly so, two unknown and seven failing.
For 2007 we again see that there have been no tests whatsoever made for either enteroviruses or salmonella on any one of the 45 bathing waters now listed, showing not a single mandatory compliance.
Thirty-five passed the Guideline standard, with ten failures, this a slight degradation on earlier years.
South West Region Bathing Water Resorts Guide For 2007
| Beach Resort | Total Coliforms | Faecal Coliforms | Salmonella | Enterovirus | Mandatory Status | Guideline Conformity |
| Lyme Regis Church Beach | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Lyme Regis Cobb | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Seaton (Devon) | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Beer | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Sidmouth Town | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Sidmouth Jacobs Ladder | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Ladram Bay | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Budleigh Salterton | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Sandy Bay | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Exmouth | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Dawlish Warren | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Dawlish Town | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Dawlish Coryton Cove | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Teignmouth Holcombe | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Teignmouth Town | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Shaldon | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Ness Cove | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Maidencombe | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Watcombe | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Oddicombe | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Babbacombe | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Meadfoot | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Beacon Cove | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Torre Abbey | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Hollicombe | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Paignton Preston Sands | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Paignton Sands | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Goodrington | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Broadsands | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Shoalstone | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| St Mary's Bay | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Dartmouth Castle & Sugary Cove | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Blackpool Sands | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Slapton Sands Monument | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Slapton Sands Torcross | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Mill Bay | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Salcombe N Sands | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Salcombe S Sands | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Hope Cove | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Thurlestone South | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Thurlestone North | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Bantham | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Bigbury on-Sea South | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Bigbury-on Sea North | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Challaborough | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Wembury | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Bovisand | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Plymouth Hoe East | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Plymouth Hoe West | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Kingsand | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Cawsand | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Portwrinkle | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Downderry | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Seaton (Cornwall) | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Millendreath | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| East Looe | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Readymoney | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Polkerris | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Par | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Crinnis Golf Links | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Crinnis Leisure Centre | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Charlestown | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Duporth | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Porthpean | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Pentewan | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Polstreath | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Port Mellon | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Gorran Haven Little Perhaver | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Gorran Haven (Vault) | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Porthluney | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Porthallow | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Porthoustock | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Coverack | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Pollurian Cove | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Poldhu Cove | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Church Cove | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Porthleven West | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Praa Sands East | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Praa Sands West | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Perran Sands | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Mounts Bay Little Holgus | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Mounts Bay Heliport | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Mounts Bay Penzance | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Mounts Bay Wherry Town | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Porthcurno | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Sennen | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Porthmeor | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Porth Gwidden | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Carbis Bay Station Beach | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Carbis Bay Kidney Sands | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| The Towans (Hayle) | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Portreath | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Porthtowan | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Trevaunance Cove | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Perranporth Penhale Sands | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Perranporth Village End | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Holywell Bay | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Crantock | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Fistral | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Towan | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Great Western | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Tolcarne | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Lusty Glaze | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Porth | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Watergate | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Mawgan Porth | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Porthcothan | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Treyarnon Bay | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Constantine Bay | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Mother Iveys Bay | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Harlyn Bay | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Trevone Bay | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Rock | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Daymer Bay | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Polzeath | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Trebarwith Strand | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Crackington Haven | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Widemouth Sand | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Bude Summerleaze | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Bude Crooklets | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Bude Sandy Mouth | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Hartland Quay | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Westward Ho | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Instow | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Saunton Sands | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Croyde Bay | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Woolacombe Putsborough | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Woolacombe Village | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Barricane Bay, Woolacombe | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Ilfracombe Tunnels Beach | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Ilfracombe Capstone (Wildersmouth) | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Ilfracombe Hele | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Combe Martin | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Lynmouth | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
The South West Region of the Environment Agency has been steadily reducing the sampling that should be undertaken for salmonella and enterovirus over the years. Where earlier they tested 81 resorts for salmonella and 19 for enteroviruses out of their 141 bathing waters, for 2001 (2002 status) they reduced sampling for both of these organisms to just 24 resorts. The result was that for that summer holiday season we reached a figure of only 13 bathing waters proven to comply, 11 evidenced to fail, and 118 resorts of non-determined mandatory compliance.
In 2002 sampling, for the 2003 status, we saw just six tests for salmonella (which all passed) and six for enteroviruses (of which none passed). Even resorts that failed on coliforms the previous year were not tested!
In 2003 sampling, for the 2004 status, not one of the 141 bathing waters proved to pass, seven proved to fail and the remaining 134 were shown to be of unknown mandatory conformity.
In the 2004 testing, for the 2005 status, just five resorts were tested for enteroviruses and six for salmonella, all but one of which failed the mandatory requirement. Indeed, three of the bathing waters were not even tested for coliforms! So for the record we had just one proven compliant resort, five proven failures and 135 of unproven and unknown conformity.
In the 2006 testing, for the 2007 status, we see not a single test for either enteroviruses or salmonella, a truly remarkable escape mechanism, as by this means we see no failures for these pathogens. But by the same token we see no passes to the imperative mandatory standard either.
The 76/160/EEC Bathing Waters Directive clearly states that the public have a right to know about the quality of their bathing waters. The 2007 status (based on 2006 sampling results) shows that of the now 134 designated bathing waters, sixteen failed the guideline whilst 118 passed.
Welsh Bathing Water Resorts Guide For 2007
| Beach Resort | Total Coliforms | Faecal Coliforms | Salmonella | Enterovirus | Mandatory Status | Guideline Conformity |
| Jacksons Bay Barry | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Whitmore Bay Barry | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Cold Knap Barry | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Southerndown | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Trecco Bay Porthcawl | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Sandy Bay Porthcawl | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Rest Bay Porthcawl | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Aberafan | FAIL | FAIL | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | FAIL | PASS |
| Swansea Bay | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Oxwich Bay | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Port Eynon Bay | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Rhossili | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Pembrey | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Pendine | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Amroth | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Coppet Hall | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Saundersfoot | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Tenby North | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Castle Beach, Tenby | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Tenby South | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Lydstep | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Manorbier | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Freshwater East | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Barafundle | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Broadhaven South | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| West Angle | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Dale | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Marloes | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Broadhaven | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Newgale | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Caerfai | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Whitesands | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Newport | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Aberporth | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Tresaith | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Llangrannog | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Newquay Harbour | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Traeth Gwen New Quay | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Aberystwyth South | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Aberystwyth North | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Clarach South | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Borth | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Aberdyfi | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Tywyn | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Fairbourne | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Barmouth | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Tal-y-Bont | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Llanddwyn | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Harlech | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Craig Du Beach Central | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Criccieth | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Pwllheli | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Abersoch | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Aberffraw | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Rhosneigr | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Silver Bay Rhoscolyn | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Borth Wen | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Cemaes | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Traeth Lligwy | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Benllech | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Llanddona | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Penmaenmawr | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Llandudno W Shore | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Llandudno N Shore | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Colwyn Bay | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Kinmel Bay (Sandy Cove) | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Rhyl | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Prestatyn | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
In 1998 The DETR claimed that 64 of the then 68 Welsh bathing water sites passed and that just 4 failed the mandatory values. The Welsh Environment Agency publication 1998 Bathing Waters Report Wales admitted only 3 mandatory failures. The facts were that just 5 of the 68 Welsh resorts were proven to pass the full mandatory EC standard, whilst 14 failed and the remaining 49, though all tested twice in the whole year for salmonella, had no enterovirus tests conducted whatsoever, so were therefore of unknown compliance.
In 1999 we had 70 designated resorts of which seven were proven passes, nine proven failures and the remaining 54 incompletely tested, so demonstrating unknown compliance. 52 resorts were not salmonella tested and 54 were not tested for the presence of enteroviruses. The DETR, through the EA reports, claimed that 69 resorts passed and only one failed the mandatory level!
In 2000 we had five more resorts added to give 75 resorts in all. Of these only one proved to pass the EC mandatory requirements for all pathogens whilst just one proved to fail, so leaving 73 of the 74 resorts as being highly questionable and of unknown mandatory compliance.
The tests in 2002, for the 2003 status, showed 70 of unknown conformity, five failures and no proven passes whatsoever.
The tests in 2003, for the 2004 status, showed that only one resort was tested for enteroviruses and one other for salmonella. The results showed three mandatory failures, 72 of unknown conformity and no passes.
In the following year we then had 76 resorts, all of which were of unknown mandatory compliance as not a single test was undertaken for either for enteroviruses or for salmonella.
Based on the testing performed in 2006, this year's 2007 claim was that of the 64 bathing waters all but one (Aberafan) had passed the imperative mandatory standard. The Environment Agency's actual test results do clearly show this single failure, but also show the other 63 resorts as being of unknown conformity, because no salmonella or enterovirus testing was undertaken. This equates to no Welsh mandatory passes whatsoever, one mandatory failure and 63 of questionable status.
The Guideline results shows nine failures, the remainder to pass.
North West Bathing Water Resorts Guide For 2007
| Beach Resort | Total Coliforms | Faecal Coliforms | Salmonella | Enterovirus | Mandatory Status | Guideline Conformity |
| West Kirby | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Meols | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Moreton | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| New Brighton | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Formby | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Ainsdale | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Southport | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| St Annes | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| St Annes North | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Blackpool South | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Blackpool North | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Bispham | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Cleveleys | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Fleetwood | PASS | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Heysham Half Moon Bay | PASS | PASS | PASS | PASS | PASS | FAIL |
| Morecambe South | PASS | PASS | PASS | FAIL | FAIL | FAIL |
| Morecambe North | PASS | PASS | PASS | PASS | PASS | FAIL |
| Bardsea | PASS | PASS | PASS | PASS | PASS | FAIL |
| Aldingham | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Newbiggin | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Askam in Furness | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Roan Head | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Haverigg | PASS | PASS | PASS | PASS | PASS | FAIL |
| Silecroft | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Seascale | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| St Bees | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
| Allonby South | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | PASS |
| Allonby | PASS | PASS | PASS | PASS | PASS | FAIL |
| Silloth | PASS | PASS | PASS | PASS | PASS | PASS |
| Skinburness | PASS | PASS | UNTESTED | UNTESTED | UNKNOWN | FAIL |
The North West Region Environment Agency were once to be congratulated, as they were the only United Kingdom region to have responsibly tested for all four EC mandatory microbiological parameters.
However, despite this sampling against all four microbiological parameters, only two samples for salmonella and two for enteroviruses were normally taken throughout the entire bathing season, when 20 should really be the required minimum number for mandatory pathogens.
The result of this foregoing testing regime was that each and every resort in the north-west region failed the mandatory requirements due to the proven presence of enteroviruses.
Of the 34 resorts tested in 1999, 17 were proven to pass the full mandatory standard whilst an equal number failed. (The government claimed 23 passes and 11 failures that year!)
The 2000 testing, for the 2001 status, showed 18 resorts to pass and 15 to fail, with only one being of unproven compliance.
The 2001 testing, for the 2002 status, proved 20 resorts to pass, 13 to fail and one of unknown compliance.
An sudden and amazing change came about the following year. This arose following the imposition of the huge £87,000 per day fine imposed by the European Court on 13th November 2002 for the UK's failure to meet the mandatory standard as required by Directive. This European Court judgment was based upon just three of the Blackpool area bathing waters.
The mind of our government must have been focused to the fact that the only way to stop the daily fine was to claim that the failing resorts met the coliform standards. Indeed, by some miracle, it was claimed that they all so did.
A sudden and remarkable reduction of coliforms (on which the fine was based) came about, although all the resorts failed the mandatory standard requirement of a zero finding of enteroviruses. Enteroviruses were discovered present at every resort in the north-west.
The 2003 test results, giving the compliance for 2004, showed that 16 of the region's 34 resorts were tested for salmonella, and that all passed. Sixteen were tested for enteroviruses, of which 12 passed. With all coliform tests claimed to pass, this gave 11 passes, 5 failures and 18 resorts not fully tested, these therefore being of unknown compliance.
As the original judgment of the European Court based it's finding on coliform non-compliance, it is very doubtful that the European Commission could now go back to re-imposing the fine on a different vector, i.e. enteroviruses. This would almost certainly have required a new legal case, and this would require many years to bring about just as the original legal case had done.
Now, we will soon be seeing the implementation of a new Bathing Waters Directive which bases microbiological compliance on quite different parameters, and these no longer include the enterovirus or salmonella requirements. This has already been passed in the European Parliament.
The tests in 2004, giving the 2005 status, showed all 35 North-west resorts except Haverigg passing the imperative mandatory coliform concentrations, and that twelve passed on salmonella and enteroviruses too, but 21 were not so monitored. Thus we saw 12 bathing waters passing, 2 failing and 20 of unknown mandatory conformity. The recommended guideline standard was achieved at seven resorts, five only just, with no excellent passes. Twenty-seven failed this level.
Now in 2007, we see a pass claimed for just thirty resorts listed. But the 2006 test results show that 23 of these were not tested for either enteroviruses and salmonella. Seven resorts were tested for enteroviruses, of which six passed and one failed. Eight were tested for salmonella, all of which passed. Thus in truth we finish up with 6 resorts known to be compliant to the imperative mandatory standard, 1 proven failure and 23 of unknown conformity.
The Guideline conformity was met at eight bathing waters, 22 failed to meet this standard.
Northern Ireland Bathing Water Resorts Guide For 2007
| Beach Resort | Total Coliforms | Faecal Coliforms | Salmonella | Enterovirus | Mandatory Status | Guideline Conformity |
| Magilligan Downhill Site No3 | PASS | PASS | PASS | PASS | PASS | PASS |
| Magilligan Downhill Site No10 | FAIL | FAIL | PASS | PASS | PASS | FAIL |
| Castlerock | FAIL | FAIL | PASS | PASS | PASS | FAIL |
| Portstewart | PASS | PASS | PASS | PASS | PASS | PASS |
| Portrush Mill | PASS | PASS | PASS | PASS | PASS | PASS |
| Portrush Curran | PASS | PASS | PASS | PASS | PASS | PASS |
| Whiterocks | PASS | PASS | PASS | PASS | PASS | PASS |
| Ballycastle | PASS | PASS | PASS | PASS | PASS | PASS |
| Cushendall | PASS | PASS | PASS | PASS | PASS | PASS |
| Waterfoot | PASS | PASS | PASS | PASS | PASS | PASS |
| Cushendun | PASS | PASS | PASS | PASS | PASS | PASS |
| Carnlough | PASS | PASS | PASS | PASS | PASS | PASS |
| Ballygally | PASS | PASS | PASS | PASS | PASS | PASS |
| Brown's Bay | PASS | PASS | PASS | PASS | PASS | PASS |
| Helen's Bay | PASS | PASS | PASS | PASS | PASS | PASS |
| Crawfordsburn | PASS | PASS | PASS | PASS | PASS | PASS |
| Ballyholme | PASS | FAIL | PASS | PASS | PASS | FAIL |
| Groomsport | PASS | PASS | PASS | PASS | PASS | PASS |
| Millisle | PASS | PASS | PASS | PASS | PASS | PASS |
| Ballywalter | PASS | PASS | PASS | PASS | PASS | PASS |
| Ballyhalbert | PASS | PASS | PASS | PASS | PASS | PASS |
| Tyrella | PASS | PASS | PASS | PASS | PASS | PASS |
| Murlough | PASS | PASS | PASS | PASS | PASS | PASS |
| Newcastle | PASS | PASS | PASS | PASS | PASS | PASS |
| Cranfield Nicholson's | PASS | PASS | PASS | PASS | PASS | PASS |
| Cransfield Bay | PASS | PASS | PASS | PASS | PASS | PASS |
| Warrenpoint | PASS | FAIL | PASS | PASS | PASS | FAIL |
Northern Ireland's Environmental & Heritage Service provided the results for this area, as they do not appear on the Environment Agency website.
They were to be congratulated in 2003 as they responsibly tested every one of their then 16 resorts for both salmonella and enteroviruses, albeit only twice per beach throughout the entire year. Every resort was proven to pass all four EC mandatory microbiological standards.
Northern Ireland was the only region in the entirety of the UK to be seen in 2006 to meet the full microbiological testing requirements that became law in 1985.
Where other regions have obviously acquiesced to the government's demand to reduce testing for enterovirus and salmonella, Northern Ireland only did so in 2005 when not a single test was done for either pathogen that year, showing that not one of the resorts proved to pass the imperative standard demanded.
They have now returned to meet the required obligations.
The net result is that for 2007 we have 27 bathing waters, all but four of which have passed the microbiological limits in all four mandatory categories.
Regional and National Mandatory Compliance to 76/160/EC Bathing Waters Directive for 2007
| United Kingdom Region | Total Bathing in Region | Proven Mandatory Passes | Proven Mandatory Failures | Of Unknown Mandatory compliance | Guideline Compliant | Guideline Failures | Of Unknown Guideline conformity |
| Scotland | 61 | 0 (0.0%) | 0 (0.0%) | 61 (100%) | 21 (34.4%) | 14 (22.3%) | 26 (43.3%) |
| Northumbrian | 31 | 0 (0.0%) | 4 (12.9%) | 27 (87.1%) | 26 (83.9%) | 5 (16.1%) | 0 (0.0%) |
| Yorkshire | 21 | 0 (0.0%) | 1 (4.8%) | 20 (95.2%) | 15 (71.4%) | 6 (28.6%) | 0 (0.0%) |
| Anglian | 36 | 0 (0.0%) | 0 (0.0%) | 36 (100%) | 29 (80.6%) | 7 (19.4%) | 0 (0.0%) |
| Thames | 8 | 0 (0.0%) | 0 (0.0%) | 8 (100%) | 6 (75.0%) | 2 (25.0%) | 0 (0.0%) |
| Southern | 71 | 0 (0.0%) | 0 (0.0%) | 71 (100%) | 50 (70.4%) | 21 (29.6%) | 0 (0.0%) |
| Wessex | 45 | 0 (0.0%) | 0 (0.0%) | 45 (100%) | 35 (77.8%) | 10 (22.2%) | 0 (0.0%) |
| South West | 134 | 0 (0.0%) | 0 (0.0%) | 134 (100%) | 118 (88.1%) | 16 (11.9%) | 0 (0.0%) |
| Wales | 64 | 0 (0.0%) | 1 (1.6%) | 63 (98.4%) | 55 (85.9%) | 9 (14.1%) | 0 (0.0%) |
| North West | 30 | 6 (20.0% | 1 (3.3%) | 23 (76.7%) | 8 (26.7%) | 22 (73.3%) | 0 (0.0%) |
| N. Ireland | 27 | 23 (85.2%) | 4 (14.8%) | 0 (0.0%) | 27 (100%) | 0 (0.0%) | 0 (0.0%) |
| All UK Total | 528 (100%) | 29 (5.5%) | 11 (2.1%) | 488 (92.4%) | 390 (73.9%) | 112 (21.2%) | 26 (4.9%) |
To summarise, we find that for 2007 only 29 (5.5%) of the UK's 530 bathing beaches have been proven to comply with the 1975 76/160/EEC Bathing Waters Directive Imperative Mandatory Standard.
23 (85.2%) of these were in Northern Ireland, leaving only 6 resorts in the entirety of England, Scotland and Wales which have been shown to meet the full mandatory standard.
Of the 40 bathing beaches which were fully tested, 11 were proven failures, six of these in England.
The Government's Press Release admitted to only 2 failures in all of England. One of these was Staithes, the other was an inland bathing water (Ladies Pond at Hampstead Heath). The government claimed 99.5% compliance.
The reality is that even if we exclude the issue of the failure to test for salmonella and enterovirus, 11 sea bathing resorts in the UK failed the mandatory standard in 2007. These were:
Thus, instead of the UK Government's claimed 99.5% compliance in 2006 for England alone, actual compliance in the UK (even when excluding the issue the failure to test for salmonella and enterovirus) was only 97.9%.
Actually the situation is far more serious than this, as in 2006 491 UK resorts (92.4%) failed to be tested for all four mandatory microbiological parameters (i.e. including salmonella and enteroviruses) so their conformity is unknown rather than assumed as conforming, as claimed by the government's Press Release.
Also two years ago we saw 587 resorts listed compared to only 530 this year, so it would appear that a number of failing bathing waters have been removed from the original designated listing rather than taking action to ensure their compliance.
A risk of infection is posed to those innocently entering sewage polluted waters believing them to pass the standards of the 76/160/EC Bathing Waters Directive. Many failing resorts have in the past been flying flags claiming compliance to the EC mandatory standard(s) when in fact they may never have been monitored to evidence this, and worse, in some cases proved to fail.
The EC Guideline standard is based upon coliform and streptococci bacterial findings only, and does not include the enterovirus and salmonella pathogens listed only under the 76/160/EC Directive imperative mandatory requirements. Thus, it is possible that resorts can pass the bacterial guideline standard when they have failed the mandatory due to findings of the other far more virulent pathogens.
The guideline standard is a standard that 'the authorities should strive to meet', but is not legally required like the imperative mandatory standard. Enteroviruses and salmonella do not appear, but no more than four samples in the year (80%) must exceed 500 Total Coliforms per 100ml, 100 Faecal Coliforms per 100ml or 100 Faecal Streptococci per 100ml. Those that do pass are classed as 'excellent', so if 16 or more 'excellents' appear in a given year, the guideline standard has been accomplished, but maybe not the mandatory!
To pass the 76/160/EC BWD mandatory standard, there must be no more than 10,000 Total Coliforms per 100ml, and no more than 2,000 Faecal Coliforms per 100ml in more than one sample throughout the year in question. Thus one sample failing of the twenty tests normally made in any one year will allow a narrow pass. Two or more failing the coliform limits indicate a failure.
Additional to the coliforms there must be no enteroviruses or salmonella whatsoever. If a dash '-' is in the column(s) for these, no samples have been taken, so the status is unknown, and cannot be proved to pass, or fail. If a zero '0' is present, it was tested then and found absent. If all tests were made and comply, the resort passes. If a one '1' (or more) is seen in either the enteroviruses or salmonella column, then they have been found to be present, and the resort fails the mandatory standard.
A 'poor' rating is only given by the UK government when the coliforms exceed the limit. That far worse pathogens such as enteroviruses or salmonella may be present is ignored, much to the danger of the user!
The results of findings for the previous year decide the following year's conformity status (i.e. 2006 results for 2007 status). Thus, by the study of these, you will be able to calculate the conformity of any UK resort to the standards. You will also be able to see the historical results from May 2004 onward by studying the Environmental Agency web-page for the findings.
Detail on the 76/160/EC Bathing Water Directive is to be found by going to: http://europa.eu/scadplus/leg/en/lvb/l28007.htm
With the discrepancies abounding under the old 1975 76/160/EC Bathing Water Directive, it became obvious that a new Directive without escape clauses was necessary, as loopholes readily used by first the UK, later taken up by other administrations, meant that health protection and meaningful information were no longer being addressed under the 1975 76/160/EC Bathing Water Directive.
As requested by the EC in the consultative process, MARINET, the North Sea Action Group, Surfers Against Sewage and the Marine Conservation Society provided their ideas and ideals on this. For the past three years Dr.Caroline Lucas MEP has been avidly fighting in the European Parliament to have our main points included.
A new Directive was eventually passed by the European Parliament on 15th February 2006, numbered 2007/7/EC, and this new Directive will come into force in the UK from 24th March 2008. Detail of this Directive is to be found by visiting the EU website, see: http://europa.eu/scadplus/leg/en/lvb/l28007.htm
The main features of this revised Bathing Water Directive and further information can be found at the Defra website: www.defra.gov.uk/environment/water/quality/bathing/revision.htm
This revised Directive will now only have two microbiological parameters to monitor: Intestinal enterococci and Escherichia coli. The requirement to monitor for the real pathogens, salmonella and enteroviruses, has been dropped.
Also, the new Directive will allow for the discounting (ignoring) of up to 15% of poor samples (failures) at some bathing sites if it can be argued that these failures were due to short-term pollution events.
The new Directive is clearly the product of a much simplified compromise, doing away with the different mandatory and guideline compliance levels in the original 76/160/EC Bathing Water Directive.
MARINET has serious concerns in that many of the points for inclusion made throughout our submissions have been omitted. The bad news is that the frequency of monitoring is to be reduced, salmonella and enterovirus have been left out of the parameters to be tested for, and recreational waters such as those used by water skiers, surfers and the like are not to be included.
However, the good news is that factual information to the vulnerable public has to be given, and that the assessment which will be given in terms of a rather over-simplified 'Excellent', 'Good' and 'Poor' quality status may, in reality, be seen by the public as possibly being more meaningful.
Rather than relating to the original concentrations of coliforms per 100ml of bathing water and the other pathogens as before, new methods of bacterial assessment are to be employed to provide a single standard rating.
Although at first sight this methodology appears to be inferior to the standards of the previous Directive, it does in fact produce a more meaningful understanding in that it appears not to be easily 'misinterpreted' (a polite word for 'fiddled' ) as was the earlier 76/160/EC BWD.
DEFRA has performed an assessment as to how all of Britain's resorts relate to the new 'Excellent', 'Good' and 'Poor' status that will be employed in the new Bathing Water Directive.
Using the Environment Agency 2002 findings, we see that in England and Wales 285 bathing waters were in the 'excellent' category, 88 'good', with 110 found to be 'poor'.
If the three year 2000-2002 data is used, then under the new Directive we would see 214 as 'excellent', 120 'good' and 151 'poor'.
Whilst not providing the ideal standard indication, as would have been provided by the application of the full testing regime of the original Directive, they do at least show a more meaningful indication than the present situation where we are experiencing false claims of compliance, leading to misleading propaganda about the true quality of our bathing waters.
The author acknowledges and gives thanks Malcolm Scott for painstakingly extracting the analysis data from the official sources, to Hugh Rout for the conversion of this to the website format requirements and to Stephen Eades for double checking the accuracy. The provision of the detailed analysis on the Environment Agency web site is acknowledged as is the data provided by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and the Northern Ireland Environmental & Heritage Service, so permitting MARINET to provide the true 76/160/EEC Bathing Water Directive compliance for each bathing resort in the United Kingdom.
Footnote 1:
Although the government's interpretation is not factual, the test results published on the Environment Agency Web Site are, and can be found on Internet by going to www.environment-agency.gov.uk On the homepage click on 'What's in Your Backyard'. Next click on 'Find Your Environment' and input your postcode, town, city or village in the space provided. A map of your area will then appear with Bathing Water and four other definitions listed. If you now highlight 'What's on that Map' and 'Query Layer' for Bathing Water. Click on the Bathing Water 'spot', it will bring up the annual Quality Classifications. If you then click on the year required all data you require for all tests will be given for that year.