Attention Beachgoers! According to a new study measuring bacteria levels by Victor Axiak from the University of Malta, multiple beaches have recorded increased levels of bacteria this summer.Among the top four are Balluta Bay, Xlendi Bay, St. George’s Bay in St Julians and St. George’s Bay in Birżebbuġa. These four bays scored as the beaches with the worst levels of bacteria last year too, but this summer, bacteria levels seem to have increased.“Moreover, the difference between Balluta and the rest of the ‘worst 10’ is relatively large.” According to Axiak Next in the list are Spinola Bay, Armier, Little Armier, Santa Marija Bay in Comino, Xatt l-Aħmar and Marsalforn. There are four classifications the commission gives for the quality of bathing water; excellent, good, sufficient and poor. Although none of the beaches were classified as poor, Balluta and Xlendi Bay were classified as “sufficient”, with most other beaches being classified as excellent.Axiak’s study collected samples from 87 fixed monitoring stations across 41 bays across The sister islands in the first 10 weeks of the bathing season starting on 12th May, although no readings were taken when bays were closed due to short-term pollution.The results from the study show that Malta is within the European Commission’s safety levels, with just less than one per cent of the readings exceeding 500 CFU/100ml.In better news, the study also gave us a top 10 list of the best beaches to swim at, which includes; Pembroke, St Thomas Bay, Wied iż-Żurrieq, Xgħajra, Ġnejna, Żewwieqa, Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq, Marsascala, Għajn Tuffieħa and Pretty Bay.So if you’re planning on heading down to the sea, make sure to think twice about which bay you choose.Send this to someone who needs to see this •