Up to 25 of England's beaches could fail to meet toughened EU water quality standards coming into force today, the Environment Agency has warned.
While over 99% of the 417 bathing spots tested by the agency last year passed cleanliness tests, new limits will halve the level of acceptable bacteria and bring standards in line with recommendations from the World Health Organisation.
This means 25 of England's beaches, in sites including Blackpool, Margate, Lyme Regis and Illfracombe, could be landed with lower ratings.
Testing of England's waters will take place over the coming summer. Sites will be forced to display whether they have passed the standards and inform visitors whether it is safe to swim.
Sites thought to be at risk of lower ratings include Fleetwood in Lancashire, Hastings and Instow in Devon.
The two most significant sources of pollution that reduces water quality are sewage from water company infrastructure and pollution from agriculture.
Water quality at Britain's beaches has dramatically improved over the last 20 years, with over a third of sites in 1988 being deemed unfit for bathers.
Ed Mitchell, executive director of environment and business at the Environment Agency, told the BBC: 'Good bathing water is essential for people's health, local tourism and economic growth, and these new higher standards for bathing water will further protect the public.'
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