DORSET has some of the country’s best sites for water bathing, as the Environment Agency (EA) reports stellar rankings across the conurbation despite previous pollution fears.

Out of the 19 beaches in the BCP Council area mentioned in the EA’s annual bathing waters report, 18 were given an ‘Excellent’ rating – with Rockley Sands in Poole rated ‘Good’ for bathing water quality.

For the report, the EA took up to 20 water samples at each designated bathing water site in the area during the bathing season between May and September. A classification for each bathing water is calculated annually based on samples from the previous four years.

However in October last year, one month after data collection ended, high winds and heavy rain resulted in sewage being emptied into 17 popular swimming locations.

Storm sewage was discharged from sewer overflows in Bournemouth Pier, Branksome Chine and Christchurch Avon Beach among others.

An EA spokesperson said: “A sample tells us the quality of the water at that specific time, but water can change even over the course of one day. In each sample we test for bacteria that indicate whether there is faecal matter in the water.

“These bacteria can come from many sources including sewage, agricultural livestock, wildlife, birds and road drainage. When more of these are present in a bathing water they can indicate greater risks to a bathers' health.”

Out of 417 bathing waters in England, most of those in the BCP region were among the 295 (70.7 per cent) classified as ‘Excellent’.

This also comes after a Wessex Water director controversially suggested those swimming in the area would be safer if they kept their mouth shut while bathing.

The subject of pollution in local waters was discussed at length at a BCP Council overview committee meeting in late January.

Below is a specification of the Environment Agency’s report.

Bournemouth:

  • Hengistbury West – Excellent
  • Southbourne – Excellent
  • Fisherman’s Walk – Excellent
  • Manor Steps – Excellent
  • Boscombe Pier – Excellent
  • Bournemouth Pier – Excellent
  • Durley Chine – Excellent
  • Alum Chine – Excellent

Christchurch:

  • Highcliffe Castle – Excellent
  • Friar’s Cliff – Excellent
  • Avon Beach – Excellent
  • Mudeford Sandbank East – Excellent

Poole:

  • Branksome Chine – Excellent
  • Canford Cliffs Chine – Excellent
  • Poole Shore Road Beach – Excellent
  • Poole Sandbanks Peninsular – Excellent
  • Poole Harbour Lake – Excellent
  • Poole Harbour Rockley Sands – Good
  • Shell Bay North – Excellent

East Dorset:

  • Studland Knoll House – Excellent
  • Swanage Central – Excellent
  • Kimmeridge Bay – Excellent
  • Lulworth Cove – Excellent
  • Durdle Door East – Excellent
  • Durdle Door West – Excellent