Sandgate Bathing Water Quality Tests - May 4th and 18th
Regular water quality tests on Sandgate beach, Kent, carried out by the Environment Agency to check compliance with standards set in the Bathing Water Directive showed that on both 4th and 18th May that the water had 'Two thumbs up' - water quality in the sample met the Directive's most stringent Guideline standards.
In both 2009 and 2010 the water quality was also 'Two thumbs up' - the May 2011 tests were the first of this year.
The tests are done to check compliance with standards set in the Bathing Water Directive. The Directive sets limits for a number of substances, and all countries in the EU have to ensure their popular beaches meet these standards.