Cornwall bathing waters score 99% despite stringent new standards

The bathing waters that surround our Cornwall caravan parks have maintained their excellent quality, as it's revealed they scored an impressive 98.9% pass rate despite the stringent new European standards.

All but one of Cornwall's 88 registered bathing waters passed the new quality tests, which are rumoured to be doubly strict this year.

Chairman of the Bathing Waters Liaison Group for the South West and Chief Executive of Visit Cornwall, Malcolm Bell, said: “Thanks to the massive efforts over the last twenty years by Defra, the Environment Agency, water companies, councils, local communities, farmers and environmental organisations, bathing water quality is better than ever.”

Under the new EU standards, bathing water is rated as excellent, good, sufficient or poor. Waters are analysed in peak season, between May and September, and four years worth of results count towards the rating.

The 98.9% pass rate is made even more impressive after the heavy rainfall in 2012 – this would have caused run-offs from roads and agricultural land that can negatively affect water quality.

"The vast majority of our beaches have passed this tougher test with flying colours and we should be particularly proud of this," added Mr Bell.

Many of you will be familiar with the region's beaches after exploring them on your caravan holidays in Cornwall – Carbis Bay, Widemouth Bay, Perranporth and Hayle Towans all achieved an 'excellent' rating.