Water quality ratings at 44 North Wales beaches show best and worst for swimming
Record rises in consumer water bills could lead to improvements on Welsh beaches, according to Natural Resources Wales. The environment regulator wants to see better water quality for swimmers and is pressing water companies for a share of the spoils.
Many beaches in Wales already meet stringent standards, with 75 out of 110 designated bathing sites rated 'excellent' (68%). However, among the designated bathing beaches in North Wales, this proportion falls to 52%.
Some Welsh beaches don't come up to scratch at all. Two have 'poor' ratings – Ogmore-by-Sea in the Vale of Glamorgan and Rhyl Central beach in Denbighshire.
Rhyl Central suffers for being next to the mouth of the River Clwyd, where sewerage outfalls and livestock pollution are a constant challenge. NRW has already spent heavily on preventative measures here, such as livestock fencing, and it is now promising further 'targeted action'.
Another sub-par beach is Llandudno's North Shore. - the scene of a 12-year battle to restore sand to a foreshore now mostly covered by stones. Its water quality is rated only 'sufficient' - just one grade above Rhyl Central, where a no-swim warning has been issued.
Trace amounts of sewage debris and animal faeces are occasionally found on the North Shore, while small amounts of litter are observed regularly. A recurring issue at the prestige resort is 'misconnections' – when waste water pipes from toilets and washing machine are plumbed into surface drains instead of the sewage system. This effluent is then discharged directly to the environment.
After years of work with local property owners, NRW believes misconnections no longer threaten bathing water quality. Neither are local farms and campsites thought to be sources of sea pollution. Nevertheless, NRW said it is continuing to work with Conwy Council to improve matters.
Also considered merely 'sufficient' was Cemaes, Anglesey. Testing found high bacteria loads and monitoring identified the possible source as Afon Meddanen, a tributary of the River Wygyr. As a result, extra fencing has been added to nine riverside farms and more fencing work on the Meddanen was completed earlier this year..
Beach water quality ratings are compiled using four years of testing data. By averaging out the figures over four years, the idea is to give a truer picture for swimmers.
At the start of each year, beach waters are checked for obvious signs of pollution, and to ensure any permitted discharges are operating correctly.
Ceri Davies, NRW's interim CEO said: 'Much progress is being made, and after securing record levels of investment for the environment from water companies through the price review process, we will be pressing for investment in assets affecting our bathing waters, to safeguard their future health.'
Wales now has 112 designated bathing sites – last week, Lisvane and Llanishen reservoirs in Cardiff were added to the list. They join another reservoir used by swimmers, Rhyl's Marine Lake.
Poor
Rhyl Central, Denbighshire
Sufficient
Llandudno North Shore, Conwy
Cemaes, Anglesey
Good
Denbighshire
Prestatyn Central
Rhyl East
Marine Lake, Rhyl
Kinmel Bay (Sandy Cove)
Conwy
Abergele (Pensarn)
Colwyn Bay
Llandudno West Shore
Anglesey
Llanddona
Benllech
Traeth Lligwy
Trearddur Bay
Borth Wen
Gwynedd
Porth Nefyn
Abersoch
Criccieth
Excellent
Conwy
Colwyn Bay (Porth Eirias)
Penmaenmawr
Llanfairfechan
Anglesey
St David's - Benllech
Porth Swtan (Church Bay)
Porth Dafarch
Silver Bay, Rhoscolyn
Rhosneigr
Aberffraw
Llanddwyn, Newborough
Gwynedd
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