FOUR of the five bathing beaches in Carrick have passed the Marine Conservation Society Good Beach Guide.
Girvan, Croy and Maidens/ Turnberry beaches received a basic pass. Dunure Beach failed.
Culzean Beach was one of only 39 beaches in Scotland to receive a recommended status.
Across Scotland, the Marine Conservation Society tested 105 beaches and f
ailed 13 sites. The society claims that fewer beaches are reaching their stringent water-quality standards because heavy summer rains are carrying raw sewage through combined sewer overflow pipes.
In addition, the society claims, pollutants such as animal waste, fertilisers and refuse are being washed from farmland and town and city streets into rivers and the sea.
Calum Duncan, MCS Scottish conservation manager, said: "We're recommending 39 beaches for excellent water quality this year, which is good, but poor-quality bathing water carries health risks.
"MCS advises people to use the Good Beach Guide and do three things: Pick bathing beaches with a good quality record, stay out of the sea at any beach for at least 48 hours after heavy storms, and report pollution problems to us via the Good Beach website."
The website, www.goodbeachguide.co.uk, also includes the report's results.
The latest tests were conducted from June to September of 2009, which was wetter than normal in most area — particularly the Scottish Borders and western Scotland.
Stricter bathing-water standards will be introduced in five years.
Under the new rating scheme, 35 per cent of Scotland's beaches will fail the new minimum water-quality standard if improvements are not made.
Thomas Bell, MCS coastal pollution officer, said: "Our campaign work is focused now on the degree to which combined sewer overflows are to blame for bathing water pollution and what can be done about it.
"Scotland has a large network of these pipes on the coast, which are designed to carry sewage out of flooded sewer systems and deposit it in rivers or the sea."
