Sandgate beach water quality: 'Two thumbs up'

9.43.43am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 10th Sep 2009

DEFRA have confirmed that Sandgate, near Folkestone, has met the most stringent Guideline standards in testing of water quality over the past year, with one of the cleanest beaches on the Kent channel coast.

The Environment Agency stated in early 2008 that Sandgate's beach had failed the Clean Beach standard due to a pumping station fault during severe rainfall in early 2008. Dave Lowthion, Marine Team Leader, has now confirmed that all the bathing water samples collected at Sandgate last year, after the failures at the end of May, met the highest guideline standards.

All the samples collected so far this year have also met this high standard. Sandgate Parish Council has made arrangements for the weekly sampling and testing programme results to be displayed on the beach at Granville Parade and on the Parish web site.

The latest report issued by DEFRA states that Sandgate Beach is now one of the cleanest beaches along this stretch of coast. Sandgate achieved the Mandatory guideline standards for all 15 samples, and 13 of these samples exceeded the Mandatory guidelines standards by meeting the Most Stringent Guideline standards for samples taken between May and August 2009.

• 'Two thumbs up': Water quality in the sample met the Directive's most stringent Guideline standards.

• 'Thumbs up': Water quality in the sample met the Directive's main Mandatory standards.

• 'Thumbs down': Water quality in the sample failed to meet the main Mandatory standards.

Related Link:

See recent Sandgate beach water quality test results at the Sandgate Parish Council web site