How safe is your beach? DORSET

Kimmeridge Bay failed Mandatory bathing water standards Credit: PA

The Marine Conservation Society says water quality at our beaches has dropped. In the annual Good Beach Guide, which looks at bathing water quality, fewer beaches passed - and others dropped a classification.

In Dorset, no beaches improved, 10 dropped in rating, and 25 stayed the same.

Key:

Recommended

Achieved MCS Recommended standards – our standard for excellent water quality

  • Guideline bathing water standards were met, but 100% of samples did not exceed 2,000

E.coli per 100 ml

  • Local continuous sewage discharges are appropriately treated to remove the majority of

bacteria and viruses using, as a minimum, secondary treatment3

Guideline

Achieved Guideline bathing water standards – our standard for higher water quality

  • Mandatory bathing water standards were met

  • 80% of samples did not exceed 100 E.coli per 100 ml

  • 90% of samples did not exceed 100 intestinal enterococci per 100 ml4

Mandatory

Achieved Mandatory bathing water standards – our standard for minimum water quality

  • 95% of samples did not exceed 2,000 E.coli per 100 ml5

Fail

Failed Mandatory bathing water standards – did not meet our minimum water quality

standard

Beaches list:

Portland Harbour Sandsfoot Castle.

2013 rating: Mandatory 2012 rating: Recommended

Portland Harbour Castle Cove

2013 rating: Mandatory2012 rating: Recommended

Weymouth Central

2013 rating: Recommended 2012 rating: Recommended

Weymouth Preston (Lodmoor) 2013 rating: Recommended 2012 rating: Recommended

Church Ope Cove

2013 rating: Recommended 2012 rating: Recommended

Bowleaze Cove 2013 rating: Mandatory 2012 rating: Guideline

Ringstead Bay

2013 rating: Guideline

2012 rating: Recommended

Durdle Door West

2013 rating: Recommended 2012 rating: Recommended

Durdle Door East

2013 rating: Recommended 2012 rating: Recommended

Lulworth Cove2013 rating: Mandatory2012 rating: Guideline

Kimmeridge Bay

2013 rating: Fail

2012 rating: Mandatory

Swanage Central

2013 rating: Recommended 2012 rating: Recommended

Studland Knoll House

2013 rating: Recommended 2012 rating: Recommended

Shell Bay North

2013 rating: Recommended 2012 rating: Recommended

Poole Harbour Rockley Sands

2013 rating: Mandatory

2012 rating: Recommended

Poole Harbour at Hamworthy Park

2013 rating: Recommended 2012 rating: Recommended

Poole Harbour Lake

2013 rating: Recommended 2012 rating: Recommended

Poole Sandbanks Peninsular

2013 rating: Recommended 2012 rating: Recommended

Poole Shore Road Beach

2013 rating: Recommended 2012 rating: Recommended

Poole Canford Cliffs Chine

2013 rating: Recommended 2012 rating: Recommended

Poole Branksome Chine

2013 rating: Recommended 2012 rating: Recommended

Bournemouth Alum Chine

2013 rating: Recommended 2012 rating: Recommended

Bournemouth Durley Chine

2013 rating: Recommended 2012 rating: Recommended

Bournemouth Pier

2013 rating: Recommended 2012 rating: Recommended

Bournemouth Boscombe Pier

2013 rating: Recommended 2012 rating: Recommended

Bournemouth Fisherman's Walk

2013 rating: Recommended 2012 rating: Recommended

Bournemouth Southbourne

2013 rating: Recommended 2012 rating: Recommended

Bournemouth Hengistbury West

2013 rating: Recommended 2012 rating: Recommended

Christchurch Mudeford Sandbank East 2013 rating: Recommended 2012 rating: Recommended

Christchurch Avon Beach

2013 rating: Mandatory

2012 rating: Recommended

Christchurch Friar's Cliff

2013 rating: Recommended 2012 rating: Recommended

Christchurch Highcliffe Castle

2013 rating: Recommended 2012 rating: Recommended

Highcliffe

2013 rating: Mandatory

2012 rating: Recommended

Christchurch Bay:

2013 rating: Recommended 2012 rating: Recommended