Britons have been warned that when warm weather finally arrives, fewer beaches will have a clean bill of health than in 2012.
Last year's washout summer has hit bathing spots around the UK, with a rise in the number of beaches failing to meet even minimum standards for water quality.
There has also been a huge fall in the number of beaches recommended for bathing in the latest Good Beach Guide, thanks to heavy rain and flood waters washing pollution from towns, farms and sewers down to the sea.
The Marine Conservation Society (MCS), which publishes the guide, warned swimmers could become ill if they bath in polluted water.
A total of 42 beaches failed to meet the minimum EU levels expected for bathing water in testing last year, a rise of 17 on 2011's figures, according to the guide.
Sandy Porthminster beach in St Ives, Cornwall is recommended by the MCS Only 403 of the 754 UK beaches assessed were awarded the top "recommended" award for their water quality in 2012, 113 fewer than in the previous year.
The MCS says the fall in water quality was down to one of the wettest summers on record last year.
The rain and flooding led to an increase in bacteria and viruses in bathing water, coming from a variety of sources including agricultural and urban run-off, storm waters, plumbing mis-connections and dog waste.
The pollution can give bathers ear, nose and throat infections and even gastroenteritis, the MCS warned.
The organisation said there was an urgent need for improved monitoring of overflow pipes which can discharge raw sewage into rivers and the sea when heavy rain overloads the system with water from street drains.
Raw sewage overflows can affect both rivers and coastal beaches Action was also needed to reduce pollution from farms and urban areas, ahead of tougher EU rules on water quality coming in from 2015.
MCS coastal pollution officer Rachel Wyatt said: "We have recommended fewer beaches in every English region and in Wales and Scotland.
"In England, the North West and South West were particularly badly hit with the fewest number of recommended beaches for at least a decade.
"Action must be taken now. With stricter bathing water standards from 2015 and summers that appear to be getting wetter, the iconic image of people bathing off golden beaches could be at serious risk.
"There is no simple solution to sewage and animal waste reaching our seas. However, if the water industry, communities and local authorities recognise that there is a problem and begin to work together to find answers that would be a significant start."
The guide says Blackpool has poor water quality The situation is a turnaround from the previous grading, when a record number of beaches were given the top "recommended" award for their water quality.
The South West saw a number of its previously recommended beaches fail last year, including Plymouth Hoe East and West, Shaldon and Exmouth in Devon, East Looe and Bude Summerleaze in Cornwall and Charmouth West in Dorset.
In the North West, just three beaches are recommended for excellent water quality in the new guide, with popular beaches at Blackpool North and South failing to meet even the basic mandatory standards.
But Blackpool central and nearby St Anne's and St Anne's North beaches improved their water quality to reach the mandatory standard last year.
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