Bathing Water (Hansard, 19 November 1998)

§ Mr. Meacher

Overall UK compliance with the mandatory coliform bacteria standards in the Bathing Water Directive was 89 per cent. compared with 88 per cent. in 1997 and 90 per cent. in 1996.

I am pleased that this year more bathing waters in England met the mandatory coliform bacteria standards than ever before. I recognise the action taken by the Environment Agency and water companies in response to pressure from Government to achieve this. 90 per cent. of the identified coastal bathing waters passed, compared with 88 per cent. in 1997. But there are still too many bathing waters which fail regularly and compliance remains very poor in the north west, in particular, where only 62 per cent. achieved the standards. An overall failure rate of one in ten bathing waters is not good enough and I want to see significant improvements and our bathing waters to be regarded as among the best in Europe.

When I announced the results last year, I wrote to the Chairman of the Environment Agency asking for a detailed report on the prospects for compliance and the action needed on persistent failures. I also commented on the disappointing results in the north west and asked North West Water to work with the Agency to sort out the remaining problems in the region, particularly in the Blackpool, Fylde coast area.

The Agency has produced a comprehensive report and must build on their analysis and devise a well-targeted programme of action, with particular emphasis being given to persistent mandatory failures. By 2005, I want to see a further significant increase in bathing water quality, particularly in the level of compliance with higher, guideline standards.

Inland bathing waters are included for the first time and all 9 passed the mandatory coliform bacteria standards.

A record number of coastal bathing waters in England–349—met the Directive's coliform standards and of the 40 which failed, half of them missed compliance by only 1 of the 20 samples. Results in the north east were worse than in 1997 but in other regions percentage compliance was either better or the same as last year. I am pleased that Anglian region, again, achieved the mandatory coliform standards at all their bathing waters. Thames regional also achieved 100 per cent. and Southern region had only 2 failures compared with 8 last year.

More English coastal bathing waters (146) met the "guideline" standard needed for a European Blue Flag than in 1997 (136) and I hope that where those beaches achieve the appropriate beach management standards more local authorities will apply for this internationally recognised and valued award.

830W

The main results for the UK are summarised in the table. This information, together with details for each bathing water in England, will be placed in the Libraries of the House today. Detailed results for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will be published by the Departments concerned. A report with more detailed results for the UK will be available around the turn of the year.

Bathing water survey–1998 results for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland (Compliance with Bathing Water Directive (76/160/EEC): Coliform Standards)
	Pass	(1997 result)	Fail	(1997 result)	Total	(1997 result)
Coastal bathing waters
Environment Agency—Operational Regions (England)
Northumbrian¹	26	(32)	8	(2)	34	(34)
Yorkshire¹	21	(19)	1	(3)	22	(22)
Anglian	36	(35)	0	(0)	36	(35)
Thames	3	(3)	0	(0)	3	(3)
Southern	75	(67)	2	(8)	77	(75)
Wessex¹	40	(39)	3	(4)	43	(43)
South West¹	127	(125)	13	(12)	²140	(137)
North West	21	(17)	13	(17)	34	(34)
England	349	(337)	40	(46)	389	(383)
Wales	64	(60)	4	(4)	68	(64)
Scotland	12	(18)	11	(5)	23	(23)
Northern Ireland	15	(14)	1	(2)	16	(16)
Total coastal Waters	440	(429)	56	(57)	496	(486)
Inland bathing waters
Environment Agency—Operational Regions
Thames	6	(—)	0	(—)	6	(—)
North West	3	(—)	0	(—)	3	(—)
Total inland waters	9	(—)	0	(—)	9	(—)
¹ Northumbrian and Yorkshire, South west and Wessex Regions were amalgamated in 1993, results are recorded separately here to enable comparison to be made either years.
² One bathing water, Redgate, in the South West was closed during the 1998 bathing season and is therefore not included in compliance assessment for 1998.