Bathing Water Quality Guidelines
In the Weymouth and Portland area there are six beaches designated for monitoring under the EC Bathing Water Directive. These are Weymouth Central and Lodmoor Beaches, Bowleaze Cove, Church Ope Cove on Portland, Castle Cove and Sandsfoot Castle in Portland Harbour.
During the bathing season, the water quality at the designated beaches are tested each week between May and September against the standards set in the Bathing Water Directive 76/160/EEC . They are all checked for total coliforms, faecal coliforms and faecal streptococci which are indicators of sewage and other faecal contamination. The results are noted below.
Weymouth Central Water Quality Guide
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Weymouth Central has attained the following water quality standard over the past several years.
1998  |
1999  |
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
Designated sampling points
| Beaches | Date | Results |
|---|---|---|
| Bowleaze Cove | 28/6/2012 | |
| Church Ope Cove | 28/6/2012 | |
| Sandsfoot Castle | 28/6/2012 | |
| Lodmoor | 28/6/2012 | |
Key to the above guide
(Excellent) The guideline, or recommended, standards consider faecal coliform, total coliform and faecal streptococci:
Total coliform no more than: 500 per 100 ml Faecal coliform no more than: 100 per 100 ml Faecal streptococci no more than: 100 per 100 ml
To achieve this overall result for a season 80% of all the samples (16 out of 20) must be equal to, or better than, the above standards for total and faecal coliform and 90% (18 out of 20) must be equal to, or better than, the above standard for faecal streptococci. The water must also comply with the legal minimum standard.
(Good quality) The mandatory, or legal minimum, standards consider faecal coliform and total coliform:
Total coliform no more than: 10,000 per 100 ml Faecal coliform no more than: 2,000 per 100 ml
To achieve this overall result for a season 95% of all the samples (19 out of 20) must be equal to, or better than, the above standards. It is this mandatory standard that is required a Seaside Award at a resort and rural beach.
(Fail) The test(s) failed the legal mandatory standards.
For further details of bathing water analytical details and an explanatory leaflet can be obtained by contacting the Environmental Health Services Unit of Weymouth and Portland Borough Council or the Regional Office of the Environment Agency.
