The water quality of two of Marlborough's recreational water areas has improved compared with last year, according to a Marlborough District Council report.
Pelorus Bridge and Wairau Bar were upgraded from "poor" to "fair" compared with the summer of 2008-09.
The 2009-10 recreational water quality report found coastal water to be higher standard than freshwater.
Data is collected from 31 popular swimming sites in the region. The sites are monitored weekly between November and March and at the end of each summer data is used to update the grade of the areas.
Grading takes into account five years of data for the areas and a risk assessment for each site.
The report found 80 per cent of monitored beaches were safe to swim at for more than 95 per cent of summer.
The best water was at Marfells Beach, Whites Bay, Waikawa, Picton foreshore, Shelley Beach and Tirimoana.
Moenui and Momorangi Bay had the poorest water quality.
Just over half of freshwater spots tested were safe to swim at for more than 95 per cent of summer. The best quality water was from two rowing club sites on the Wairau River and at Ferry Rd bridge on the Wairau.
The poorest was Rai Falls. However, the median E coli number recorded at the falls has dropped during the past two years, suggesting land management in the Rai Valley was improving water quality, the report says.
Overall water quality in the region's river swimming sites has improved.
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