[ Home ] [ Bush talks sense on environment ] [ Campaigns ] [ Commentary ] [ Doomsday predictions ] [ Earthquake News ] [ Electromagnetic radiation ] [ Environmental news ] [ GM stuff ] [ Fishing ] [ Forests ] [ Global warming ] [ Green watch ] [ Hunting stuff ] [ Lomborg ] [ Mining Industry news ] [ Miscellaneous ] [ Mountains ] [ Planning ] [ I remember it well ] [ Nuclear power ] [ Oil ] [ People who should know better ] [ precautionary principle ] [ Privatisation ] [ Railways ] [ Roads ] [ "Things are getting better" stuff ] [ Tourism ] [ Water ] [ Wind power ]

You have reached iGreens.org.uk.  In December 2006 we moved to iGreens.org with faster servers and discussion boards.  Click here to follow us.  

The Marine Conservation Society's (MCS) Good Beach Guide 2001 recommends a record number of clean beaches, 275 in total. This is 60 more than in 2000, an increase of 28%. The Good Beach Guide is the ultimate independent guide to water quality and sewage discharges at over 1,000 UK beaches. Only beaches that MCS consider to be free from bacterial contamination are recommended.

MCS has reported a massive improvement in coastal water quality this year in all four corners of the UK. The South has recorded huge improvements in bathing water quality, and with record numbers recommended in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, the MCS Good Beach Guide 2001 shows that the UK seaside is a great place to be this summer. 

iGreen comment

The MCS press release and nearly all press reports of the story say that the bright picture is tarnished by an increase in the number of beaches failing the minimum water quality standard. The number of such beaches rose from 80/749 10.7% to 90/806 11%, a non significant increase. 

They all missed the real story, that the one area of the UK which failed to see an improvement is the Isle of Man.  There are still no recommended beaches there, and over a third, six of the 15 sampled beaches, fail the minimum EU water quality standard.  iGreens will not be surprised to learn that the Isle of Man is the only region of the UK which has still not privatised its water utility. The still-nationalised Isle of Man Water Authority has invested much less than the private water utilities in sewage treatment. 

[ Home ] [ Up ] [ Isle of Man beach update ] [ clean beach update 2002 ]

You have reached iGreens.org.uk.  In December 2006 we moved to iGreens.org with faster servers and discussion boards.  Click here to follow us.  

Send mail to enquiries@igreens.org.uk  with questions or comments about this web site.
Last modified: September 10, 2006