Agenda item

To consider a joint report (copy attached) by the Head of Highways and Environmental Services & the Corporate Director:  Environment & Economy on the work being undertaken with partner organisations in a bid to receive blue flag status accreditation for as many as possible of the county’s beaches.

10.05am – 11.30am

BREAK 11.30am – 11.45am

The Lead Member for Environment and Transport introduced the report (previously circulated) to members.  The Chair welcomed representatives from both Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water (DCWW) to the meeting to contribute to the discussion and answer members’ questions.  The Lead Member thanked officers for their attendance at the meeting.

The report enabled Members to scrutinise the work being undertaken with partner organisations in a bid to achieve blue flag status accreditation for as many as possible of the county’s beaches. It was emphasised that it would be very difficult for Rhyl to achieve Blue Flag status due to its proximity to the estuary of the river Clwyd and the effects of the incoming tide.  The obstacles and challenges Rhyl faced with regards to this were outlined in presentations given by both NRW and DCWW as were the reasons why Prestatyn’s beaches had moved from excellent water quality to good water quality resulting in its Blue Flag status being removed.

The Senior Officer: Regulatory Approaches Natural Resources Wales (NRW) guided members through a presentation on the Blue Flag Status for Denbighshire’s Beaches. Members were guided through the classification process used to determine the water quality on beaches.

In 2015 the process for testing water quality became more stringent with samples assessed for faecal bacteria E Coli and Intestinal Enterococci. Members were shown detailed graphs containing the percentages of bacteria found in water over previous years. If the Prediction and Discounting (P&D) data recorded more than two consecutive days of poor water quality the water was deemed unfit for bathing.  In such cases Denbighshire County Council (DCC) would put out signs by 10am to warn the public that the water was classified as unfit for bathing.

Impacts on water quality in Rhyl were explained including sewage works, pumping stations and sewer overflows along with agricultural impacts such as livestock access to streams and land spreading which all had implications on the quality of the water on Rhyl’s beaches.

Moving forward, NRW had a number of schemes in place to try and reduce agricultural bacteria spilling into the water system, namely the continued regulation of permitted discharges, Storm Overflow classification Guidance and the continued focus on the reduction of agricultural bacteria sources. Longer term solutions were outlined and explained.  However, a significant increase in funding from central government would be required for agricultural schemes to provide incentives for farmers to install schemes.

The Chair thanked the Senior Officer: Regulatory Approaches for NRW’s presentation.

The River Quality Liaison Officer from DCWW guided Members through a presentation on bathing water quality.

DCWW disinfected the final effluent near bathing waters, but this was not usual practice for rivers. This helped to maintain the bathing quality. Denbigh, Dyserth, St Asaph and Llanasa wastewater treatment works all received UV treatment. DCWW worked with NRW to make further improvements and where identified these would become part of their five yearly investment plans. DCWW also undertook investigations into bathing water quality in areas where their assets may contribute to worse status locations.

Members were given details on water overflow in the vicinity of Rhyl and Prestatyn beaches. Across the bathing season storm overflows were discharging on two sample days with exceptional wet weather recorded by the Met Office also contributing to poor bathing water results.

DCWW completed a Coastal Bathing Waters study for Rhyl and Prestatyn in 2017 which indicated that diffuse pollution sources were the main factor for affecting bathing water quality. Further support from DCWW was requested by NRW to expand understanding of diffuse sources and therefore the Natural Environmental Programme (NEP) output for DCWW to complete another bathing water study for 2020-2025. Water quality data from the studies carried out were explained in detail to members.

The Chair thanked the River Quality Liaison Officer for DCWW presentation and questions were welcomed from Members.

Members questioned the strategies that were in place for pumping stations and outflow pipes. The Sewerage Manager stated that routine maintenance was carried out regularly across the county.  Pumping stations were inspected on at least a weekly basis, with some in coastal areas more prone to sand blockages being inspected more frequently.  Cleaning of pipework was also frequently conducted.  DCWW held a lot of intelligence on all its infrastructure and this data was used to manage its infrastructure on risk basis.  Artificial Intelligence (AI) was also now coming to the fore with respect of storm overflow management.  Officers emphasised that the source of most pollution that entered the sea was the river systems, not DCWW assets.

Members asked if funding was an issue within the current climate. The Sewerage Manager stated that funding was not a problem currently.

Members highlighted the need for there to be a working partnership with NRW, Welsh Water and farmers and questioned what incentives were in place to encourage farmers to work alongside the schemes. The Senior Officer: Regulatory Approaches (NRW) stated that there were currently no incentives in place for farmers. There were no regulations in place prohibiting farm livestock using or entering rivers. Nevertheless, NRW worked closely with riparian landowners to encourage the fencing of riverbanks and identification of alternative water sources for livestock to access.  The issue potential funding had been raised with Welsh Government however, no information was available to suggest that this was being considered at this time.

Members asked questions on beaches, rivers, ditches/drainage systems, as well as planning matters relating to their specific wards, it was suggested that these questions were answered in Member Area Group (MAG) meetings which were held to discuss issues within different areas of the county.  NRW and DCWW officers indicated their agreement to attend MAG meetings for this purpose, subject to each MAG providing them with a detailed brief on the issues that required their input.  This would ensure that the most appropriate officers would be in attendance in order to provide comprehensive answers to the questions raised.  Both organisations advised members to encourage residents to report any incidents of pollution, burst mains, flooding etc. to their helpline numbers as this was the most effective way for them to respond to incidents and to improve services going forward.

At the conclusion of an in-depth discussion the Chair thanked NRW and DCWW representatives for attending the meeting to give their informative presentations and for providing comprehensive answers to members’ wide-range of questions.  It was:

Resolved:  subject to the above to –

(i)             acknowledge the work being undertaken by all partner organisations with regards to improving the quality of bathing water in Denbighshire, including each partner’s specific role in relation to achieving Blue Flag status accreditation for as many as possible of the county’s beaches; and

(ii)           acknowledge both Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water’s (DCWW) willingness to attend any of the Council’s Member Area Groups (MAGs) meetings to discuss local/specific areas of interest or concern subject to each MAG providing the organisations with a clear brief beforehand on the issues they wish to discuss.