The Water Quality Group (Solent Water Quality Association) is a subgroup of the Solent Forum, its primary focus is bathing water quality although it also considers issues relating to the Water Framework Directive.  It administers the annual Solent Water Quality Awards.  Applications for this must be submitted to the Secretary of the Solent Water Quality Association on the official application form obtainable from the Solent Forum Office.  The cost per application is £52, with a separate application form required for each beach.

Water Quality Group core members include the environmental health departments of the eight local authorities, the harbour authorities, the Environment Agency and Southern Water. Other stakeholders are co-opted to the group as needed.

Group’s Core Principles:

• To support and complement the work of Local Authorities, the Environment Agency and other agencies in protecting and improving the quality of coastal waters for recreational and other human uses, and for flora and fauna.
• To promote the attainment of environmental standards applicable to all waters of the Solent including estuaries and harbours and to promote the improvement of standards if considered inadequate.
• To receive and consider the results of monitoring water quality in the Solent to make annual Awards to those sites complying with national standards and to publicise them on site or elsewhere, as appropriate.
• To maintain regular liaison between local authorities, the Environment Agency and Southern Water Services and other relevant agencies concerning the water quality and the coastal environment in the Solent and adjacent waters.
• To consider the environmental impact of: sewage effluent; other discharges, including industrial; and other environmental pollutants on the Solent and adjacent waters and its flora and fauna
• To publicise the work of the Solent Water Quality Association and the substance of its discussions.
• To sponsor and support research into water quality in the coastal environment.