Another Kent beach has been hit with a "do not swim" warning after a spike in unsafe levels of bacteria which can cause illness.

The quality of the water at Littlestone on Romney Marsh has deteriorated to ‘poor’ following the discovery of heightened traces of intestinal enterococci, indicating human faeces may be in the sea.

The advice against bathing will remain throughout the summer, even if the pollution levels drop when new samples are taken.

It is a further blow for businesses and tourism in the area – with a similar “do not swim” warning put in place along the coast at St Mary’s Bay almost a year ago remaining in force.

The Environment Agency is now working with other agencies to try to establish what has caused the alarming rise in pollution at the beaches, which are popular with holidaymakers in the summer.

Southern Water says the high samples of the bacteria – which can cause diarrhoea and sickness – are not associated with its storm overflows, but it is carrying out analysis of its sewers.

District councillor Tony Cooper, who represents Romney Marsh, told KentOnline the “authorities need to be doing more” to solve the issue.

“It’s very disappointing news,” the Labour member said.

“A lot of local businesses have put a lot of effort in to make sure the place is nice to visit.

“Businesses look forward to people visiting the town in the summer time and this lackadaisical approach from the authorities is not good enough. They need to get to the bottom of this.”

In February last year a ‘do not swim’ warning was put in place for St Mary’s Bay.

Signs advising visitors not to swim in the sea remained in place for the entire 2023 bathing season.

Almost a year on, the water at St Mary’s Bay is still rated ‘poor’ despite ongoing investigations from the EA.

St Mary’s Bay and Littlestone are the only two beaches in Kent where “do not swim” warnings are in place.

Both are popular with holidaymakers, who often stay at holiday resorts along the Marsh coastline during the summer months.

Local businesses, like independent cafes, are often highly reliant on the trade done in the high season.

An EA spokesperson told KentOnline it carried out “extensive investigations” at St Mary’s Bay last year, to “identify and eliminate” sources of pollution which could have contributed to the high bacteria results.

“Although individual results have improved on the previous year, it was not enough to bring the overall results for the four-year period above the minimum threshold and therefore advice against bathing remains,” they said.

“The investigations have been complex and are still ongoing as the pollution is not from an obvious source.

“Our investigations indicate that there may be multiple sources of contamination and we are continuing to work with partners to identify and eliminate them.”

The spokesperson said the poor results at St Mary’s Bay are not connected to water company sewage storm overflows or treatment works as there are none in this location.

They added: “Unfortunately, last summer high bacteria levels were also found at Littlestone bathing water. This led to us launching a second investigation, which has included an intensive monitoring project to try to narrow down the locations of any sources of contamination.

“As these investigations are on-going, we are unable to comment further at this stage.

“Our investigatory work is a top priority for us and we will continue work to find and reduce pollution in the area over the coming year.”

Samples of bacteria have also been found at nearby Dymchurch, which is often packed with visitors in the summer and in 2022 was named by the Sunday Times as having the best beach in the south east.

EA data shows high levels of both intestinal enterococci and E.coli was found there in September. But unlike St Mary’s Bay and Littlestone, the water quality has been rated as ‘sufficient’, rather than poor.

Bosses at Southern Water say they are looking to “determine the cause of the deteriorating bathing water quality in Littlestone”.

A spokesperson said: “Our assets – sewers, pumping station and storm overflows – are always our first port of call.

“We know that the high samples that have contributed to both St Mary’s Bay and Littlestone’s water quality are not associated with storm overflows. But we are carrying out analysis of our sewers and investigating third-party issues which are likely to be contributing to the overall picture.

“Bathing water quality is not a single issue subject and we need to work with our communities, with our agriculture and industry sectors, as well as our local authority partners, to truly influence the quality of our bathing waters.”

What has been found in the water?

The EA monitors levels of two bacteria which can cause illness – intestinal enterococci and E.coli.

Intestinal enterococci are found in the intestines of animals and humans although some types are environmental in origin. The presence of the bacteria indicates that human or animal faeces may be present in bathing water alongside other potentially harmful organisms that could cause illness.

E.coli are a group of organisms found in the intestines of animals and humans and survive for a while in the environment when excreted. Many types of E.coli are not harmful but some such as E.coli 0157, can directly cause illness. The presence of the bacteria indicates that human or animal faeces may be present in bathing water and could contain other potentially harmful organisms that could cause illness, such as diarrhoea.

Samples at Littlestone taken between May 1 and September 30 last year show a one-off spike in intestinal enterococci in July to 2,500 colonies per 100ml. E.coli levels peaked at 760 colonies per 100ml in July too.

Meanwhile, at St Mary’s Bay the highest levels of intestinal enterococci were in September at 890 colonies per 100ml. E.coli peaked in the same month at 370 colonies per 100ml.

At Dymchurch, intestinal enterococci and E.coli peaked in August at 1,500 colonies and 1,800 colonies per 100ml respectively. But its water quality remained “sufficient” rather than “poor”.

In contrast, further along the coast in Hythe – which has “excellent” water quality – the levels of both bacteria are rarely above 100 colonies per 100ml.

What is causing pollution at beaches?

The reason for the high levels of bacteria at Littlestone, which “occur particularly during the holiday season”, is “not yet identified”, according to the EA.

Its website says: “The New Romney main sewer drains into the sea through an outfall pipe in the north of the bathing water.

“There is a drainage ditch, which receives the effluent from New Romney sewage treatment works and discharges onto the beach in regular intervals.

“Diffuse agricultural pollution from the marsh drainage may also affect bathing water quality.

“There also is a high number of private sewerage systems in place especially towards Greatstone.

“Since the sewer network was recently extended to serve this previously un-sewered area, the impact of private discharges should start to decrease if households connect to the system.”

As for St Mary's Bay, officials believe they have identified a particular sewer which may be the cause of the issue.

The EA website says: “Due to a complex network of marsh drains, the borders of the catchment towards the neighbouring Dymchurch and Littlestone are mostly undefined.

“The ‘New Sewer’ watercourse, which receives the drainage from a large network of smaller ditches in the marsh, drains into the sea through an outfall in the south of the bathing water.

“Environment Agency investigations have identified the ‘New Sewer’ watercourse as a potential source of pollution to the bathing water.

“This river takes the drainage from the surrounding marshland, which includes agricultural runoff and private sewage effluents.”

The EA says: “If results improve, then the overall classification could improve at the end of the season. However, if bacteria levels don’t meet the strict minimum standards, we will continue to advise the public against bathing at this bathing water.”