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Cleaner Seas

Behind the scenes: how Environment Agency scientists are testing bathing water quality  

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Cleaner Seas, Rivers, Water

There are more than 450 designated bathing waters across England. The Environment Agency is responsible for monitoring, improving, and maintaining water quality at all designated bathing waters. Importantly, designation also means that information is provided to the public to help …

What’s the foam you sometimes see along Britain’s coastlines?

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Cleaner Seas, Cleaner Seas, Climate change, Environment Agency, Water
Coastal foam is often seen in warmer periods

Have you ever been at the coast and noticed a frothy foam at the water’s edge? From April to August, it’s fairly common to see these discoloured, sometimes creamy-looking and bad smelling foamy patches in the sea. You might think …

How the Environment Agency monitors and tests bathing water quality

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Cleaner Seas, Environment Agency, Water
Many parts of the UK's coastline are used for bathing and leisure.

Today (15 May) marks the start of this year’s bathing water season. Between now and the end of September, millions of people will head to bathing waters to relax and swim.   Following Defra’s recent announcement of 27 new bathing waters, …

Harnessing the hidden power of restored saltmarshes for carbon capture

The EA has done major work in restoring salt marshes

A recent collaboration involving the Environment Agency, the environmental consultancy Jacobs and Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) is shining a light on the role of restored saltmarshes in storing blue carbon – carbon captured by the oceans and coastal ecosystems. The …

Environment Officer Joseph Holder explains how weekly beach walkovers and inspections are helping to improve Weston-super-Mare’s bathing water quality

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Cleaner Seas, Environment Agency, hydrometry, Regulated industry, Water
EA are using drones in Weston-Super Mare

  The Environment Agency conducts weekly sampling during the bathing water season, which spans from May to September. Across the UK, there are 424 designated bathing water sites, 49 of these sit within Wessex. Each one of these sites is …

Bathing water classifications and short-term pollution

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4. Environment Agency staff member in the sea taking a sample of the water.

Our blog on 1 February explained how we approach monitoring, sampling and testing of bathing waters and our approach to keeping public informed and warned when there are short term risks of pollution which bathers would rightly want to be …