Update by Graeme Ridley
Good afternoon,
Just an update today with regards the planned EA bathing water season 2021 sampling starting on the 15th May, the Local Authority's responsibility on static signage and additional information to note.
The Environment Agency are responsible for providing notifications to the public when it is forecast that bathing water quality might be impacted, such as from diffuse sources linked to rainfall. These notifications are provided during the official bathing water season (15th May to 30th September) as part the EA’s Pollution Risk Forecasting system and sent every morning to the electronic sign that is in place at Cullercoats. Further information can be found here: https://environment.data.gov.uk/bwq/profiles/ and also here: https://environment.data.gov.uk/bwq/profiles/data-prf.html
The Local Authority are legally responsible for displaying the required information in static signage at each designated bathing water, including Cullercoats. Further details can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/bathing-water-information-and-signage-rules-for-local-councils
Northumbrian Water are responsible for making sure that wastewater assets near to the bathing water are maintained and operated so as to maintain bathing water quality at designated sites. Significant investment over the past 30 years has resulted in a huge improvement in bathing water quality with over £7m being invested between 2020 and 2025 to improve seawater quality further. Since 2012, NWL also provides an all-year-round Beach Aware service of real time storm overflow alerts. This information and the EA’s PRFs are used by Surfers Against Sewage in their Safer Seas Service app.
The Phase 2 WINEP Cullercoats investigations are well underway. This Thursday, 25 March 2021 we will be on the beach again having a further investigation of the caves.
Please add your own updates if you would care to do so, I will respond. The more information we have will only help and, enable my Project Team and the Cullercoats Bathing Water Quality Group build up the evidence to understand the reasons for the recent deterioration of bathing water at Cullercoats.
Graeme Ridley
(NWG Project Manager)
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