BATHING water quality in Berrow and Brean has been praised by inspectors but Burnham-on-Sea’s remains poor, a new survey from the Environment Agency (EA) has revealed.

The agency monitors water quality from May to September at over 400 bathing waters across the UK so beach-goers know how clean the water is before they take a dip.

The EA survey praised the water quality at Brean beach with a‘excellent’ rating and Berrow beach with a ‘good’ rating but Burnham-on-Sea’s was once again rated as ‘poor’ due to the levels of bacteria in the water.

A spokesman for Sedgemoor District Council, said they are working with Wessex Water to try and improve Burnham’s poor rating.

“Wessex Water has delivered over £36m of improvements to reduce pollution sources from their sewerage system,” the spokesman said.

“This includes building new storage tanks to reduce storm water being released into rivers and the sea, a first time sewerage scheme at Dunball, ultraviolet disinfection at Cannington sewage works and at Highbridge storm tanks discharge “We are continuing to work with Wessex Water to improve the quality of the UV disinfected effluent from West Huntspill sewage treatment works.

“We are working with Wessex Water to reduce the number of misconnections (foul sewer connection to surface water drainage) from homes and businesses via the StreamClean partnership, and with Sedgemoor District Council to reduce the risks from ill-maintained septic tanks.

“Wessex Water also have a project looking at opportunities to reduce surface water drainage into sewers due for completion by 2020.

The district council said they are identifying agricultural areas which pose the greatest risk and are working with farmers to tackle problems by introducing better farming practices.

And they are continuing to support a campaign from Litter Free Coast and Sea Somerset, which is led by the Severn Estuary Partnership, to improve Burnham’s bathing water.

A spokesman for Litter Free Coasts and Sea Somerset, said it is a 'shame' Burnham's water quality was rated as 'poor' but there has been an overall improvement in the last few years.

"We will continue to work with and support our local community, highlighting ways in which we can all make personal changes that will reduce impact on the local environment," the spokesman said.

"If we all pull together, there’s hope that we could pass the test and achieve ‘sufficient’ bathing water quality in the future."

A spokesman for the Environment Agency, said:" We are very pleased Berrow and Brean have retained their ratings again.

"We are committed to working hard with local partners to improve water quality at Burnham Jetty North."