Every year millions of people head to the coast to enjoy England’s bathing waters and this year was no exception in Hastings.
The Environment Agency monitors water quality from May to September. There are four water quality classifications; excellent, good, sufficient or poor. These classifications are based on the level of bacteria in the water as sampled by the Environment Agency. Up to four years of results from 2013 to 2016 are combined to let you know how clean the water is when you go swimming or paddle.
“ We are very pleased to announce that the bathing water quality at Pelham beach, Hastings has been classified as good and St Leonards has been classified as excellent at the end of the 2016 season, which means that the bathing water quality is generally very good at our beaches” said Cllr Peter Chowney leader Hastings Borough Council.
He added “We have worked hard to ensure that the bathing water quality is consistently good. The Hastings Bathing Water Quality Executive group continues to work together to understand the risks to bathing water quality and put measures in place to make improvements.
“Using the results from Southern Water’s sewer network investigations the partnership has identified and is rectifying misconnections in the Hastings area and dual manholes are also being investigated and corrected. Planting in the Alexandra Park stream and the floating islands all slow the flow of water and has helped to capture sediment and increase exposure to ultraviolet light, all of which helps kill and filter bacteria before it enters the bathing water. Opening the previously culverted streams and making them tumble over rocks not only looks attractive, but also gets oxygen into the water. That encourages the growth of micropredators that eat harmful bacteria.
“The Clean Seas Please campaign has worked to change behaviours that can negatively impact the bathing water quality by highlighting the link between surface water and the sea and what should and should not go into the drains.
“Everyone has a part to play in protecting and improving our great bathing waters. If we continue to work together to reduce pollution, we can improve water quality and ensure our bathing waters and coastal communities continue to thrive.”