The quality of English and Welsh bathing waters improved in 2009. Results just published by Defra show that 98.6 per cent of beaches meet the mandatory standard up by 2% from last year. The pass rate at the more stringent EC guideline standard was over 10% better at 82.2%.The improvement was partially the result of the average rainfall in 2009, which contrasted with exceptionally wet weather in 2008, which caused pollution from run off and more frequent use of combined sewer overflows.
Ofwat has allowed £220m of expenditure in the Final Determination to improve sewage works and unsatisfactory overflows affecting bathing beaches. However recent experience on the Flyde Coast has shown that tackling bathing water quality isn’t a simple issue partly due to all the various diffuse sources of pollution.
While the improvement in bathing water quality is welcomed, looking forward bathing waters are likely to become an even more emotive issue over the next couple of years. New standards, that set even more ambitious targets, come into force in 2015. Before that, in 2012, Councils are required to display much more visible and informative signage at bathing beaches. That fact, combined with more people holidaying in the UK, is likely to increase the pressure to improve and ensure bathing water quality remains a high profile area.
No comments:
Post a Comment