Popular Welsh Beach Still Among Worst for Bathing Water Quality
Ogmore-by-Sea beach continues to struggle with poor bathing water quality ratings
Ogmore-by-Sea, Wales, Bathing Water Quality, Natural Resources Wales, Vale of Glamorgan
Ogmore-by-Sea: A beach in the Vale of Glamorgan is still rated as one of the worst in Wales for bathing water quality. It got a ‘poor’ rating from Natural Resources Wales (NRW) earlier this year.
While Watch House Bay in Barry improved to ‘sufficient’, Ogmore-by-Sea remains at ‘poor’. The only other beach with a similar rating in Wales is Rhyl.
Cllr Joanna Protheroe, a local council member, expressed disappointment over the beach’s water quality. She mentioned that the community had anticipated this outcome, given the ongoing issues.
Ogmore-by-Sea was designated for bathing in 2023, and the community had campaigned for this status. Cllr Protheroe noted that the poor rating is disappointing but not surprising.
Bathing water quality is determined by bacteria levels in water samples. Ogmore-by-Sea is near the River Ogmore, and a wastewater treatment plant is located upstream, which could be affecting the water quality.
Officials from NRW and Welsh Water discussed various factors that might contribute to the high bacteria levels. They mentioned that it’s not just the river that could be the culprit.
There are other possibilities, like dogs on the beach or large bird populations. One major issue is “misconnections,” where homes aren’t properly linked to wastewater systems, causing pollution.
Despite the challenges, NRW noted that overall bathing water quality in Wales is improving, with over 70 beaches rated ‘excellent’. However, improvements at Ogmore-by-Sea may take time.
In May 2024, NRW declared an “abnormal situation” at Ogmore-by-Sea due to unusual pollution, which led to a swimming ban. This situation wasn’t resolved until mid-June.
The council is still waiting for answers about the pollution source, and investigations are ongoing. Welsh Water plans to invest £1.1 billion to enhance water quality across Wales.
Jennifer Grubb from Welsh Water mentioned that an investigation into Ogmore-by-Sea will start soon. Local council member Cllr Susan Lloyd Selby expressed concern about the ongoing poor water quality.
Grubb acknowledged the community’s worries and emphasized that while investment is crucial, understanding the pollution sources is equally important. They need to pinpoint where the bacteria is coming from to effectively address the issue.