Majority of Norfolk's bathing water sites 'excellent'- Environment Agency
'Designated Bathing Water Status is given to popular swimming locations by the Environment Department
The Environment Agency tell us a vast majority of Norfolk's designated bathing water sites are in an 'excellent condition'.
It's as the group is quality testing water at all of the county's 16 zones- which are regularly monitored for harmful bacteria.
"We've seen a huge increase in the amount of importance the public places on having pristine water"
Andrew Raine who works for the Environment Agency locally:
"Whenever we've got concerns about a site or it's recorded as poor, we carry out a series of investigations to find out why that is and what's happened.
"We work with the water companies, hold them to account and make sure they carry out investment where it's vitally needed.
"A lot of the sewage works have now got ultra-violet filtration, which kills 99 per cent of the bacteria which is going into our waterways and the sea.
"We've seen a huge increase in the amount of importance the public places on having pristine water".
What is 'Designated Bathing Water Status'?
It's a classification given to popular swimming locations by the Environment Department.
In these areas water quality is regularly monitored for harmful bacteria to ensure it meets a minimum standard that's fit for people to use for things like bathing and wild swimming.
The routine testing is made public to ensure people can make informed decisions about where and when to use the waterway, itself.
There are currently 17 of these sites in Norfolk and North Suffolk
For a coastal or inland water to be designated as a bathing water:
-It must have at least 100 bathers a day during the bathing season (15 May to 30 September)
-There must be toilet facilities bathers can use during the bathing season, within a short distance of up to about 500m from the site
Monitoring of Bathing water:
The Environment Agency (EA) monitors levels of E. coli and intestinal enterococci at these sites.
They also look for indications of cyanobacteria, macro-algae, marine phytoplankton and waste.
Once testing is complete the EA classifies designated bathing waters every year as excellent, good, sufficient or poor.