Rivers Trust Expresses Hope ‘Poor’ Water Quality Rating Will Prompt Action

A rivers trust has stated that a “poor” water quality rating for a bathing area ought to “promote action”. Derwentwater, located in the Lake District, received bathing status from the Environment Agency (EA) in May, which entailed weekly water monitoring throughout the summer period. The EA disclosed on Tuesday that the lake did not satisfy its minimum standards for the current year. Among other recently designated locations that received the lowest possible scores were a site at Coniston, also situated in the Lake District, and Littlehaven Beach in South Shields. Jodie Mills, head of the West Cumbria Rivers Trust, commented that the low score underscored the group’s consistent desire for Derwentwater to attain bathing status. She explained that the consistent testing mandated for water bodies with this status compelled the EA to address the lake’s water quality with seriousness. During its assessments, the EA, which has been contacted for a statement, identifies particular bacteria in the water that signify the existence of faecal matter. Ms. Mills stated that the governmental agency had already initiated DNA testing on the water to ascertain the origin of the issue. “There are a lot of geese and birds that are fed there,” she said. “It might be coming from that.” She mentioned that the lake serves as a significant tourist destination and is a venue for sporting events like triathlons during the summer. “Hopefully by then we’ll know the source [of the problem],” she stated, further noting that these kinds of problems are seldom “fixed overnight”. The EA also assigned a “poor” rating to the water at Coniston boating centre, and Coniston Parish Council, which advocated for bathing status, has been asked for a response. Littlehaven Beach similarly did not satisfy the minimum water quality standards this summer. Ernest Gibson, a South Tyneside councillor, reported that the local council was already collaborating with the EA and Northumbrian Water to examine the problem. “Unfortunately, there is no quick fix and we expect it will take a few years until the water quality meets our aspirations,” he stated. “This is simply the start of our journey of improvement.” Northumbrian Water verified its cooperation with the EA, noting that “many factors” have the potential to affect bathing water quality, including agricultural and highway run-off. Connect with BBC North East via X, Facebook, Nextdoor, and Instagram. Submit your story concepts to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external linking is available.