Anglesey tourist hotspot achieves ‘good’ bathing water quality status after previously being named worst in Wales

All of Wales’ beaches have reached the minimum bathing water quality standards, according to new government data .

The annual review takes into account the water quality of 105 beaches with Natural Resources Wales (NRW) confirming that at least “adequate” standards are being met at all those sampled.

Of all of those studied, 84 achieved the highest classification of “excellent”, 14 “good” and seven “sufficient,” meaning that Wales has continued its trend of delivering high bathing water quality across the board for the third year straight.

The announcement has been particularly welcomed in one Anglesey tourist hotspot which saw its beach fail to reach the minimum standards for two years running.

In 2016 Cemaes beach was named as the worst in Wales for water quality after failing quality tests with pollution being found in the water.

But it was deemed to have improved enough to reach “sufficient” quality in 2018 after a specialist task force was set up, the beach has now taken another step forward with confirmation it has reached “good” status.

Cllr Derek Owen, chairman of Llanbadrig Community Council, has been heavily involved in the work of the Task Group to date and welcomed the latest announcement.

“This improvement in bathing water quality is good news for the local economy as well as the obvious public health benefits of having a high quality environment,” he said.

“Coastal communities like ours rely heavily on tourism, and people come here to enjoy clean beaches and good bathing water. So the 2020 classification will be very much welcomed by local businesses and people who live in Cemaes and the surrounding area.

He added: “We were clearly very concerned when the standard had dropped to poor back in 2016. But I must say that, since the Task Group was set up, we’ve seen a tremendous effort by all parties.

“It’s been encouraging to see our public bodies working so closely with us in the community, and I’m extremely pleased that this work is clearly paying off.”

In 2018 Anglesey Council adopted an innovative bathing water model developed by Aberystwyth University specifically for the quiet, enclosed and sheltered bay at Cemaes.

This innovation was funded by the Acclimatize INTERREG project, led by University College Dublin, and is deemed to have played a key part in improving the situation at Cemaes.

Sian Williams, NRW Head of Operations in north west Wales said: “The excellent partnership working over the past few years is reflected in the latest water quality results for Cemaes. I’d like to thank and congratulate everyone who’s contributed to this year’s result.

“Monitoring and maintaining our natural resources is a cornerstone of the work we do at NRW, and collaborating with partners and local communities is vital to achieve long-term environmental improvements.

“Now that Cemaes has been classed as ‘good’, we must not rest on our laurels.

“Through the Cemaes Task Group, we will continue to carry out work such as engaging with farmers to ensure slurry is stored and spread safely on farm land to prevent run-off. Sections of river have been fenced off to stop livestock entering and we plan to do more of this.

“We’ll also continue to work with Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water and local households to check the sewage works and domestic sewage systems to mitigate pollution incidents from all sources.

“By working together to make lots of small improvements we can make a big difference so that we can all enjoy cleaner bathing waters and rivers both now and in the future.”

NRW carried out the testing at all beached between May and September, with a classification of excellent water quality is one of the main requirements for applying for a Blue Flag award for 2021.

On the Wales-wide figures, the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs said that Wales is known internationally for its stunning coastlines and clean bathing waters.

Lesley Griffiths MS added: “I am proud we continue to have some of the best bathing waters in Europe – and those consistent results could not have been achieved without the work of a number of partners, all of whom deserve our thanks.

“I am especially pleased with the work of NRW, who carried out essential work to safeguard public and environmental health, whilst continuing their water quality testing programme against the difficulties posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas, the Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism, added: “While we know COVID-19 restrictions have impacted on our tourism and hospitality sector, these results show that Wales is still working hard to ensure the quality of its bathing waters – and we look forward to welcoming visitors to those waters as soon as we can.

“This is an excellent sign of confidence in the state of our coastlines, and in the team effort made by communities, regulators and other partners to safeguard our natural assets.”

You can check the water quality at your nearest beach by clicking here.

By Gareth Williams – Local Democracy Reporter