Home / Environment / Swim Alert: New Ways to Check Water Quality
Swim Alert: New Ways to Check Water Quality
1 Aug
Summary
- New apps and flags offer real-time bathing water quality updates.
- Bacteria like E. coli from sewage can cause sickness.
- Official ratings are based on four-year averages, not daily conditions.
With increasing concerns about sewage spills and bathing water quality, various methods are available to help swimmers make informed decisions. Official ratings from the Environment Agency, based on E. coli and intestinal enterococci levels found in samples over four years, assess waters from 'excellent' to 'poor'. These tests, however, only occur during the bathing season (May 15 to September 30) and do not provide daily condition updates.
Campaign groups like Surfers Against Sewage offer apps that provide alerts for pollution incidents, including sewage spills, using data from water companies and sensors. These alerts aim to offer more immediate information than official ratings. Water companies like South West Water also provide real-time updates through platforms like WaterFit Live, though these may not always assess bathing water quality risk directly.
Additional schemes like the Blue Flag award recognize beaches with excellent water quality, environmental management, and safety. Red flags can also be flown following short-term pollution incidents. Community groups are also stepping in with real-time testing kits to offer localized water quality data. The government is implementing stricter regulations and penalties for water companies failing to meet standards, including "MOT-style" checks.
