Bathing water quality has nudged up to 97.1% of beaches and inland waters passing standards set by the Environment Agency for 2022.
The environmental regulator tested 419 designated sites during the summer bathing season and found 302 (72.1%) met the ‘excellent’ standard, up from 295 in 2021.
However, the number of beaches ranked ‘poor’ increased from four in 2021 to 12 this summer, returning to double figures for the first time since 2015. Elsewhere, 20.8% were classified as ‘good’ and 4.3% met the ‘sufficient’ classification.
Bathing waters have been monitored since the 1990s when just 28% met the standards in place at the time.
The EA said there was “still much more to be done” by water companies, businesses, farmers and councils to clean up waters.
Alan Lovell, EA chair, said: “We know that improvements can take time and investment from the water industry, farmers and local communities, but where the investment is made, standards can improve.”
Water minister Rebecca Pow warned that the number of ‘excellent’ rated waters was no reason to “rest on our laurels”. She said: “That is why we are going further and faster than any other government to protect and enhance these precious sites.
“We have brought in strict targets to protect our bathing waters and new rules to crack down on water pollution will require water companies to deliver a £56 billion infrastructure improvement programme – the largest in their history.”
Locations added to the water quality index this year include Wolvercote Mill Stream at Port Meadow, Oxford, and the East Cowes Esplanade in the Isle of Wight that received bathing water status in 2022.
Up to 20 samples taken from each site during the bathing season between May and September to test for bacteria, specifically E coli and intestinal enterococci.
A spokesperson from trade body Water UK said: “The increase in the number of ‘excellent’ beaches is a testament to the ongoing hard work and investment of water companies which has seen the quality of our bathing waters increase significantly in the last decade.
“The slight fall in the overall number of bathing waters passing stringent water quality tests reflect a range of factors, including agricultural run-off. This serves as a reminder that we must not be complacent and that there remains more to be done.
“Water companies are keen to go further and will continue to work with local communities and other sectors to ensure our bathing waters are always clean and healthy for everyone to enjoy.”