People warned to avoid popular Welsh beach after 'serious public health concern'
Swimmers have been urged to avoid a popular Welsh beach following "serious public health concerns" over the water.
Harmful levels of bacteria were discovered in samples taken from a beach in Wales as councillors raised the alarm following the worrying results. The presence of intestinal enterococci, a faecal bacteria, were detected at the West Shore in Llandudno, in the North of the nation. This bacteria, which comes from human, bird or animal faeces, can cause a range of problems - including urinary tract infections and severe stomach aches. Local Conwy councillors issued an update on Monday as Cllr Louise Emery from Llandudno's Gogarth Ward took to social media to alert residents and tourists: "Don't swim at West Shore!"
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She continued: "I received notification from the council this afternoon that recent bathing water samples are not up to standard and people are advised not to swim off the West Shore beach. Signs should be already down there but please pass the message onto your networks. The council will be updated via Natural Resources Wales when more water samples are taken."
Figures from Surfers Against Sewage show there have been more than 50 discharges from the area's Dale Road storm overflow in the last three months. Natural Resources Wales (NRW) carries out regular pollution monitoring of the waters, with Conwy councillors receiving updates, according to NorthWalesLive.
Gogarth Mostyn representative Cllr Harry Saville reported that testing had detected "high levels" of intestinal Enterococci. Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water said discharge data may have been compromised by a "false reading" and that any pollution event may have originated further up the estuary.
The estuary's catchment includes sewage network overflows, the Afon Conwy and its tributaries capture seepage from sheep farming, forestry and old metal mines. Two storm overflows discharge near West Shore itself. One, the West Shore overflow, has been relative inactive in since May, with just two small incidents. However the Dale Road storm overflow has discharged 53 times in the past three months.
Cllr Saville said: "I'm very concerned that Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru/Natural Resources Wales has requested that the public are advised against bathing or paddling at West Shore due to high levels of Intestinal Enterococci found in a recent water sample. I believe that signage is due to be displayed to that effect. West Shore is popular with locals and visitors. It's essential that NRW and other stakeholders get a grip of this problem quickly."
The leaks were described as a "serious public health concern" by Conservative MS and Aberconwy representative, Janet Finch Saunders, according to the BBC. Saunders said: "West Shore is a very popular beach that attracts many visitors and locals every day.
"These announcements are extremely concerning, especially during a heatwave and the school summer holidays, which naturally increase the number of people heading to the beach."
According to Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water, a complex network of pumping stations operates at West Shore. One of these manages Afon Creuddyn, a culverted watercourse that runs through Llandudno and discharges at the Dale Road overflow.
Periodic releases here are mostly surface water only, said the company. Heavy rain may result in releases containing a highly diluted mixture of wastewater and rainwater. This is permitted under environmental regulations, stressed Dŵr Cymru.
A spokesperson added: "Our storm overflows did not operate on the day the sample was taken, or in the preceding days. This suggests the high levels of bacteria detected in this sample originate from another source of which there are many, including agricultural sources, septic tanks and animal faeces.
"We're also investigating if our pumping station at Dale Road has a sensor fault which might have given false readings, showing it was discharging when it wasn't. All other bathing water samples taken by NRW this season have met the 'excellent' threshold for bathing water quality."
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