Beaches ‘getting cleaner’, insists upbeat EA report
BEACHES in Devon and Cornwall have broken records for water quality for the second year running, the Environment Agency (EA) announced yesterday – despite numerous reports this autumn of sewage discharges into rivers and the sea.
Around 148 beaches in Devon and Cornwall are monitored for water quality and, the EA says, most bathing beaches met the highest international standards for water quality cleanliness.
The positive news comes after a spate of reports of poor water quality and complaints from pressure groups, including Surfers Against Sewage, that more investment in sewage treatment is needed to keep bathing waters clean
Nevertheless, Bruce Newport, Devon and Cornwall area environment manager for the EA, said: “Our beaches are 100% compliant, so now the challenge is to work collaboratively with everyone to keep our healthy waters in an excellent state for people to enjoy. Our coastline is an incredible natural feature.
“We have had relatively few reports of pollution on our beaches this summer, which is a credit to everyone maintaining and improving our bathing waters. We would like to say thank you to those groups, communities and businesses which have gone above and beyond to keep pollution out of our water ways.
“Bathers and surfers are using our online Swimfo app to make decisions on where to go for the best places to bathe in the summer. Just by looking at Swimfo on your mobile, you can get up-to-date information on the water quality of many of our bathing beaches.”
This year, nine beaches in Devon and Cornwall have improved their bathing water classification, while four beaches have deteriorated – Teignmouth Town, in Devon, and Cornwall’s Readymoney Cove, Porthminster and Swanpool.
Those improving from Good to Excellent are Ladram Bay, Croyde and Plymouth Hoe East in Devon, and Gorran Haven, Pendower, Porthwrinkle and Portcurnick in Cornwall. Improving from Sufficient to Good are Par Sands in Cornwall and Combe Martin in Devon.
The improvement this year from Sufficient to Good at Combe Martin is the result of a strong collaborative effort by the EA, local groups and businesses, the EA said.
In a statement, it added: “Our scientists have used analytical tests to home in on pollution sources, resulting in us working with farmers in the catchment to resolve potential pollution issues. We are committed to doing more in 2023.
In Cornwall, Par Sands has improved from Sufficient to Good. The EA said it has carried out extensive monitoring in the catchment, investigated potential sources of pollution and ensured problems causing pollution have stopped.
The EA added: “At Teignmouth, we continue to work with Teignbridge Council to improve water quality at Teignmouth Town. The nine beaches in Devon and Cornwall which have improved their bathing water classification are, in Devon, Ladram Bay, Croyde, Combe Martin, and Plymouth Hoe East and, in Cornwall, Porthcurnick, Pendower, Gorran Haven Little Perhaver, Portwrinkle, and Par Sands.