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Come and join a friendly group for a beach clean at North Walney National Nature Reserve
Come and join a friendly group for a beach clean at North Walney National Nature Reserve
MoreHow much do you love your beach? Join the Blackpool SEA LIFE Centre Team on a beach clean and receive free entry into the aquarium!
MoreCome and join a friendly team for a beach clean at Hightown beach to do your bit to love the beach!
MoreThe Rossall Beach Residents meet for a monthly beach clean one Monday of each month, meeting on Rossall Promenade (near the flagpole) at 9.25 am
MoreCome along to join a friendly group of volunteers help keep the Solway Firth clean
MoreWould you like to join a brand new Fleetwood beach clean group being set up in 2019?
MoreCome and join us for the monthly Knott End-on-Sea beach clean, meeting at the car park by the ferry slipway at 10 am
MoreCome along to join a friendly group of volunteers help keep the Solway Firth clean
MoreCome along to help keep the Wyre estuary clean at Harbour Village, meeting one Wednesday a month at 10.00 am
MoreSt Annes BeachCare group meet by St Annes Pier each week, to clean the beach and sand dunes.
MoreFriends of the Estuary group meet every Monday at 10.15 am to clean the beach from Lytham Lifeboat Station
MoreThe Fairhaven CoastalCare Group volunteers head out each Wednesday at 10 am to show they LOVEmyBEACH!
MoreCome and join St Annes North Beach Clean Group every Thursday at 10 am
MoreWe're looking for more volunteers - if you have time to spare on a Thursday morning then come along and help care for the beach at Rossall Point Fleetwood!
MoreNo events found.
The Environment Agency monitors bathing waters – stretches of sea or lake where many people swim and paddle – to assess whether they meet the strict standards of the European Bathing Water Directive. The standards are set to protect public health and the environment from pollution.
The Environment Agency takes 20 water samples at each bathing water between May and September each year and post the information online: http://environment.data.gov.uk/bwq/profiles/
The samples are tested for certain types of bacteria: escherichia coli (E.coli) and intestinal enterococci, which are not directly harmful but indicate the presence of pollution. The bacteria are found in the intestines of animals and humans and pass through the body in poo. High levels of bacteria = poor water quality.
However, the water may be cleaner on the actual day you visit the beach, as the quality can change, particularly after heavy rain washes pollution into rivers and the sea. Look out for daily forecasts at some beaches.
Each beach is also given an annual classification. From 2015 this is based on sample results over the previous four years, e.g. 2015 results use data from 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015. 2016 results use data from 2013 to 2016 and so on. The classifications are:
The standard is the highest, cleanest class
Generally good water quality
The water meets the minimum standards
Bathing is not advised at this beach as water quality has not met sufficient standards
If a bathing water is classed as Poor, you are advised not to bathe because samples taken over the previous four years have been affected by pollution. This does not mean the beach is closed – you can still enjoy everything the beach has to offer.
If a water sample has high levels of bacteria, analysis is done to estimate* the sources of pollution and work is planned in the area to improve water quality. When this work is significant and is expected to help improve bathing water quality, the four years of data for the annual classification starts from the time the work is completed and sample data from before the work are not included. This is called step change.
*Estimates are based on computer modelling, DNA analysis, and knowledge of the local area. The estimates can never be perfect because pollution to bathing waters changes from day to day depending on the season, the tides and the weather.
Let us know your email address and we’ll keep you up-to-date with the latest LOVEmyBEACH news!
By submitting this form you agree to the LoveMyBeach data privacy & terms and conditions.
Please click here to read the LOVEmyBEACH Privacy Policy