The water at Cornwall’s beaches is now officially the best on record.
Having tested 81 beaches across the Duchy, Cornwall Council are welcoming the news that the bathing water quality in Cornwall has met or exceeded tough bathing water standards; 78 of the beaches are rated as excellent or good, and none of the water at tested beaches was classified as poor.
Cabinet member for the environment, Joyce Duffin, said “All the agencies have been working together to improve water quality on our fantastic beaches which are so important to local residents as well as the increasing numbers of tourists who visit from the rest of the country and around the world.
“We can proudly say that all of our bathing water beaches meet or exceed the exacting standards.”
A recent study by the Environment agency revealed that beaches across the country are now at their cleanest since before the industrial revolution, with 98.5% of them rated as excellent, good, or sufficient. In 1995, just 28% of beaches passed quality standards.
Improvements to infrastructure near bathing sites has reduced pollution, following a new EU system to ensure safe bathing. Environmental campaigners are now calling on the Government to ensure that beaches continue to be protected after Brexit.
