FIGURES released from the Welsh Government and Natural Resources Wales (NRW) have recently revealed contrasting levels of water quality on beaches in the Vale of Glamorgan.
The Knap in Barry, Southerndown’s Dunraven Bay and Col-huw in Llantwit Major have all been graded “excellent”, while results showed the water at Penarth Beach, Jackson’s Bay and Whitmore Bay has been classed as “good”.
The water at Ogmore remains “poor” – even though there were improvements in some of the samples taken.
Water quality at Watch House Bay has also risen one band to be classified as “sufficient” and is now suitable for bathing, so signs warning people not to enter the water will be removed.
The methodology for collating the figures is controversial, as they average the readings for each beach over a four-year period, meaning poor samples from earlier years will continue to impact the bathing water classification after improvements have been made, and similarly good samples that are several years old can hide a decline in water quality at some beaches.
Photo: Vale Council.
Cllr Ruba Sivagnanam, Vale Council cabinet member for Community Engagement, Equalities and Regulatory Services, said: “These results show that the water quality at the vast majority of beaches in the Vale is either excellent or good and steps taken to improve the water at Watch House Bay means that it is no longer rated as poor so is safe to swim in.
“The Council will continue to seek action and improvements from NRW and Dwr Cymru to address the situation at Ogmore.
“It is important to remember that the council is not responsible for regulating bathing water quality at beaches, but we do want everyone to enjoy these locations, so Ogmore’s result is disappointing.
“The readings taken there show big fluctuations in water quality. Even though the vast majority of samples taken were deemed excellent, on a small number of occasions there were high readings for certain bacteria.
“Unfortunately, this testing does not determine the reason for poor water quality. There are a number of natural factors and potential pollutants that could affect the situation.
“Everyone wants clean bathing water, and we want that too. But the wellbeing of visitors will always come first so, unfortunately, for the time being, we must advise against bathing at Ogmore.”
The findings will be the subject of debate at a meeting of the Vale Council’s Environment and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee early in the new year.
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