by Jo Sword

Beaches in Whitstable and Herne Bay
are among those to meet European standards for bathing water
quality.

West Beach, Tankerton,
Herne Bay, and Herne Bay Central were among the 28 Kent
beaches tested between May and September this year by the
Environment Agency. All reached the 100 per cent 'mandatory'
(or 'good') standards, with 68 per cent achieving the ‘guideline’
standard.

Southern Water says the result is largely part of the company’s long-term investment in environmental improvements across the county.

The work ensures that
treated waste water recycled back into Kent’s rivers and seas meet
European targets.

John Spence, Southern
Water's head of wastewater & environmental strategy, said: "We
are delighted that this year all the beaches in Kent met European
standards.

"Southern Water's ongoing
environmental improvement programme has brought about a tremendous
improvement in the quality of water around our coastline which is
good news for our customers and the tourist industry across the
South East."

But it is not just
Southern Water's work which has led to the improvements, rainwater
running off roads and farmland, wastewater from privately owned
sewage works, boats or even animals on the beach also has an
impact.

Beaches tested in Kent in
2009:

Leysdown

West Beach

Herne Bay

Herne Bay Central

West Bay (Westgate)

St Mildreds Bay (Westgate)

Westbrook Bay (Margate)

Margate, The Bay

Margate Fulsham Rock

Walpole Bay (Margate)

Botany Bay (Broadstairs)

Sheerness

Joss Bay (Broadstairs)

Broadstairs (Stone Bay)

Broadstairs (Viking Bay)

Ramsgate Western Undercliff

Sandwich Bay

Deal Castle

St Margaret's Bay

Sandgate

Hythe

Dymchurch

St Mary's Bay (Kent)

Minnis Bay (Birchington)

Ramsgate Sands

Folkestone

Littlestone

Tankerton