The unrivalled beauty of Wales’ beaches are some of the jewels in the crown of its natural wonders.
However, Natural Resources Wales carries out annual testing of 105 designated bathing sites and this year the results show that seven Welsh beaches were given the lowest grade for bathing water quality.
Jackson’s Bay in Barry Island lost its “good” rating from 2019 and popular spots such as Llandudno ‘s North Shore, Rhyl and Aberafan were also given a “sufficient” mark.
This year, 83 areas of bathing water in Wales were given the prestigious “excellent” mark for water quality.
(Image: South Wales Echo)
Of the 105 beaches, 15 were graded “good” but seven were given a “sufficient” rating, the lowest available grade for bathing water quality.
According to Natural Resources Wales the five main sources of bathing water pollution are:
- Pollution from sewage – bacteria from sewage can enter our waters as a result of system failures or overflows or directly from sewage works
- Water draining from farms and farmland – manure from livestock or poorly stored slurry can wash into rivers and streams resulting in faecal material entering the sea
- Animals and birds on or near beaches – dog, bird and other animal faeces can affect bathing water as they often contain high levels of bacteria (much higher than treated human waste)
- Water draining from populated areas – water draining from urban areas following heavy rain can contain pollution from a variety of sources, including animal and bird faeces
- Domestic sewage – misconnected drains and poorly located and maintained septic tanks can pollute surface water systems
Due to the impacts of coronavirus, the monitoring season, which usually runs from May to September was delayed.
Monitoring finally got underway in June with samples taken from all designated sites and then analysed in a specialist laboratory.
(Image: WALES NEWS SERVICE)
Clare Pillman, CEO of Natural Resources Wales, said: “Monitoring and maintaining our natural resources is a cornerstone of the work we do and I’m so proud of our staff pulling together and getting this important job done despite the unprecedented times we find ourselves in.
“This year’s results show how hard we and our partners are working both locally and nationally but also the tremendous dedication that our organisations have to an important environmental service.
“We’re incredibly proud of everyone involved in getting these results in what seemed like an impossible time to carry out such a task. We look forward to Wales continuing to work as a team to protect and improve our beaches and the benefits they bring to us.”
Here are this year’s rankings starting with the lowest “sufficient” grade:
Sufficient
Jackson’s Bay Barry Island – ‘good’ in 2019
Aberavon – ‘good’ in 2019
Aberporth – ‘good’ in 2019
Llandudno North Shore (below) – ‘sufficient’ in 2019
Abergele (Pensarn) – ‘sufficient’ in 2019
Kinmel Bay (Sandy Cove) – ‘good’ in 2019
Marine Lake, Rhyl – ‘sufficient’ in 2019
Good
Whitmore Bay, Barry Island
Cold Knap, Barry
Swansea Bay (below)
Nolton Haven
Newport North
Penbryn
New Quay North
Clarach South
Tywyn
Criccieth
Cemaes
Penmaenmawr
Rhyl
Rhyl East
Excellent
Southerndown
Trecco Bay, Porthcawl
Sandy Bay, Porthcawl
Rest Bay, Porthcawl
Bracelet Bay
Limeslade Bay
Langland Bay (below)
Oxwich Bay
Port Eynon Bay
Rhossili
Pembrey
Pendine
Amroth Central
Wiseman’s Bridge
Coppet Hall
Saundersfoot
Tenby South
Castle Beach, Tenby
Penally
Lydstep
Manorbier
Freshwater East
Barafundle
Broad Haven (south)
Freshwater West
West Angle
Sandy Haven
Dale
Marloes Sands
Little Haven
Broad Haven (central)
Druidston Haven
Newgale
Caerfai
Whitesands
Abereiddy
Abermawr
Poppit West
Mwnt
Tresaith
Cilborth
Llangrannog
New Quay Harbour
Llanrhystud
Aberystwyth South & North
Borth
Aberdyfi
Aberdyfi Rural
Fairbourne
Behind the scenes at DIY SOS at Surfability in Caswell Bay
Barmouth
Tal-y-Bont
Dyffryn (Llanendwyn)
Llandanwg
Harlech
Craig Du Beach Central
Glan Don Beach
Pwllheli
Abersoch
Porth Neigwl
Aberdaron
Morfa Nefyn
Morfa Dinlle
Llyn Padarn
Llanddwyn
Aberffraw
Rhosneigr (below)
Silver Bay Rhoscolyn
Borth Wen
Trearddur Bay
Porth Dafarch
Church Bay
Traeth Lligwy
Benllech
St Davids – Benllech
Llanddona
Llanfairfechan
Llandudno West Shore
Colwyn Bay
Colwyn Bay Porth Eirias
Prestatyn
