WATER QUALITY EBBS
Busy beach loses its ‘excellent’ rating as bacteria levels increase
ONE of Wales’ most popular beaches for daytrippers saw a drop in water quality in 2020, new data has revealed. Barry Island’s main beach – Whitmore Bay – has long been a favoured seaside spot for generations of sunseekers across South Wales, and has featured prominently in hit comedy Gavin and Stacey.
But the site, together with neighbouring Jackson’s Bay, has seen its official water quality rating drop.
Annual ratings produced by Natural Resources Wales are based on levels of bacteria in all 105 of Wales’ bathing waters.
Jackson’s Bay is now rated sufficient, down from good, while Whitmore Bay lost its excellent rating, and is now only good.
Fiona Abbott, operations manager for Natural Resources Wales, said: “Both Whitmore Bay and Jackson’s Bay’s waters had an abnormally high level of bacteria in a sample result following wet weather last year.
“We will continue to look into what might have caused the drop in water quality at the time of sampling and we will be working with our partners towards getting an improvement in classification for next season.”
All beaches in Wales currently have water quality which meets the requirements for swimming and bathing, including Barry’s beaches.
Cold Knap was the only beach in Barry to achieve the highest standard of “excellent” in Natural Resources Wales’ annual report.
The Vale of Glamorgan Council says water quality has improved since the readings were taken across 2020, and readings are taken monthly by Natural Resources Wales during the summer months each year.
Miles Punter, Vale of Glamorgan council director for environment and housing services, said: “These readings relate to data collected last year so have little relevance when discussing the current water quality at these beaches.
“Information for 2021, which is available on the Natural Resources Wales website, indicates the water is extremely clean with no trace of either Intestinal enterococci or Escherichia coli during the last seven months of testing.
“Readings were also very good in 2020 apart from two anomalous results which the council has been advised could be down to a number of factors, including wet weather on the day of sampling.”
A Welsh Water spokesperson said: “Welsh Water is committed to playing its part in helping Wales secure the best bathing waters and over the past 20 years has invested over £1 billion to help achieve this.
“We are aware that both Whitmore
Bay and Jackson’s Bay’s waters dropped classification last year. Although both beaches comply with the bathing standards requirements we are committed to working with Natural Resources Wales and the Vale of Glamorgan to protect and improve water quality at these beaches.”