The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced today that 100% of the classified bathing waters in the South West have passed their stringent standards for the second year running, with 99% rated as or ‘Good’ or ‘Excellent’, compared to c.28% in 1991. With 860 miles of coastline and over 30% of England’s designated bathing waters, the South West achieved 100% bathing water quality for the first time in 2021.

Today’s announcement highlights the continued improvements the company continues to make in its environmental performance, as it is delivers its largest environmental investment programme of £330 million to 2025 – Waterfit.

Through Waterfit, South West Water will expand its 100% excellent bathing water quality standards all year round, allowing everyone to enjoy its beautiful coastline, whether that’s Christmas day or in the summer.

A spokesperson for South West Water said:

“We are delighted that 100% of the South West’s bathing waters met water quality standards this year for the second consecutive year running. As assessed by the Environment Agency, 99% of bathing waters in the region were rated as ‘Good’ or ‘Excellent’ for 2022, compared to just 28% in 1991. With over a third of the country’s designated bathing waters, our 860 miles of coastline continues to put the South West on the map as one of the UK’s most popular tourist region.

“Today’s announcement is the result of significant, targeted investment and decades of partnership work. We know we must maintain this progress as well as go further and faster to protect the natural environment. That’s why we’re committed to maintaining our region’s excellent bathing water quality standards all year round and dramatically reducing our use of storm overflows by 2025 through WaterFit, our new plan for healthy rivers and seas.”

As the firm pledges to go further and faster, it has reduced spills from storm overflows in this year’s bathing season by 50% on last year, with the duration of those spills reducing by 75%.”

Defra’s announcement shows improvement in classification for nine designated bathing beaches1, including Combe Martin, where the organisation’s investment and interventions have helped achieve a ‘Good’ rating up from a ‘Poor’ rating in 2020. This has been delivered through enhanced and targeted investments in the local wastewater infrastructure, as well as wider interventions across the catchment.

Improvements were also seen at:

  • Croyde Bay, North Devon – Good to Excellent status
  • Gorran Haven Little Perhaver, Cornwall – Good to Excellent status
  • Ladram Bay, South Devon – Good to Excellent status
  • Pendower, Cornwall – Good to Excellent status
  • Plymouth Hoe East, Devon – Good to Excellent status
  • Porthcurnick, Cornwall – Good to Excellent status
  • Portwinkle, Cornwall – Good to Excellent status
  • Par Sands, Cornwall – Sufficient to Good status
  • Combe Martin, North Devon – Sufficient to Good status

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