Yorkshire and the North East of England have, in previous years, enjoyed the fact that 100% of its bathing waters met the mandatory requirements of Directive 2006/7/EC, on the management of bathing water quality. However, Environment Agency tests have revealed that only 87% of waters in those regions met the required standard of quality this year.
The Environment Agency has said that the poor results recorded this year are the result of exceptional levels of rainfall which have washed pollution from cities and rural areas into rivers and streams.
Lord Chris Smith, Chairman of the Environment Agency, said, "Bathing water quality has improved significantly over the past two decades, but this year heavy rainfall over the summer has affected results. During intense rainfall, pollution from farmland, roads and drains is washed into rivers and coastal areas."
Lord Smith added, "This very wet year has re-emphasised that more needs to be done by water companies, businesses, farmers and local authorities to improve the water at Britain's beaches and meet more stringent water quality targets, which will come into force in 2015."
Despite unusually poor results in Yorkshire and the North East, bathing water quality in England and Wales is improving. 516 bathing waters were monitored and 94% of them reached the required quality. In 1990, the pass rate was 78%.
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