Information
Water quality grades explained
The yellow pins on the map are beaches recommended by MCS for excellent bathing water quality. All the other beaches are marked with a red pin.
All the beaches with a water quality grade were tested once a week from May to September 2008 by the relevant Government agencies (June to September in Scotland and N Ireland). This guide also contains about 300 beaches that are not tested for water quality.
MCS recommended beaches (the highest standard water quality)
100% of the test samples passed the European Mandatory water quality standard
80% or more of the test samples passed the European Guideline total & faecal coliform standard
90% or more of the test samples passed the European Guideline faecal streptococci standard
The receiving water is not subject to poorly treated continuous waste water discharge (any continous local discharge is treated to a minimum of secondary standard)
The Marine Conservation Society is satisfied that these beaches pose a minimal risk of pollution from unsatisfactory continuous waste water discharges and recommends these beaches for bathing (any official ‘wet weather waivers’ are ignored)
Guideline standard (good water quality)
Guideline is the official European standard for good water quality
95% of the samples passed the European Mandatory water quality standard
80% or more of the samples passed the European Guideline total and faecal coliform standard
90% or more of the samples passed the European Guideline faecal streptococci standard.
There is no criteria for local sewage discharges.
These beaches failed the European Mandatory standard 5% of the time and present a periodic health risk from sewage derived bacteria
Basic pass (minimum water quality)
The basic European legal minimum standard for water quality
95% or more of the samples passed the Europaen Mandatory standard
These beaches pass the minimum legal requirements for water quality. There is sewage derived bacteria present in quantities known to cause illness.
Fail (bad water quality. swimming not advised)
Failed the European legal minimum water quality standard
Less than 95% of the samples passed the European Mandatory standard.
The water at these beaches suffered gross contamination by sewage on at least two occasions in the previous bathing season. MCS advises against swimming and other immersion water sports.
Not tested (no water quality data available)
There is no water quality information available for this beach. No water sample testing was done in the previous bathing season and the beach has therefore not been graded by MCS.
