The latest State of the Beaches report from Beachwatch, ranking 249 beaches around the state, rated 20 of the Illawarra’s 21 beaches as ‘good’ or ‘very good’ for cleanliness.

Only the Entrance Lagoon Beach was rated as ‘poor'.

The Beachwatch 2013-14 report rated ocean beaches, estuarine beaches and lagoon or lake swimming spots.

Overall, 83 per cent of all swimming locations were graded ‘very good’ or ‘good’ compared to 81 per cent in 2012-13; 97 per cent of ocean beaches were ranked in the top two categories; and 71 per cent of estuarine beaches were ranked highly compared to 67 per cent in the last report.

According to Beachwatch, some of the cleanest beaches in the Illawarra include Stanwell Park, Austinmer, Woonona, Warilla, Shellharbour, Seven Mile Beach and Werri Beach. 

Each beach was placed in the lowest category for microbial presence, meaning swimmers have less than a one per cent chance of contracting gastrointestinal illness and less than 0.3 per cent chance of contracting fever and rash from using those beaches.

Further south, every beach in the South Coast area, encompassing 36 beaches in the Shoalhaven, Eurobodalla and Bega Valley council regions, was rated as ‘good’ or ‘very good.’

Every beach in the Wollongong and Kiama council areas was rated in the top two brackets.