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From crude to cleanest more recommended beaches in South West than any other regionThe Good Beach Guide 2004 is launched today by The Marine Conservation Society which confirms that the South West has the highest amount of good quality beaches.
 From crude to cleanest more recommended beaches in South West than any other region Of the 141 bathing waters monitored in the South West Water region in 2003 all but one passed the required bathing water quality standard and 99 of these were recommended by the guide as having top quality bathing waters along with additional facilities. This is an excellent achievement for South West Water after investing over £1 billion on 'Clean Sweep' the largest coastal clean up programme of its kind in Europe. The programme has constructed over 40 major sewage treatment schemes, closed down over 220 crude sewage discharges and the few remaining are due to be closed by 2005. At privatisation in 1989 South West Water inherited a severely neglected sewerage infrastructure with 40% of the region's sewage going crude into the sea around the region and 40% of inland sewage treatment works failing to meet the required standard. Today, South West Water has some of the best quality bathing waters in the UK and the highest river water quality results on record. Bathing water quality in Devon achieved 100% compliance with the required standard for the first time ever last year. Region-wide compliance with the more stringent Guideline bathing water standard also remains amongst the best in England and Wales at around 82%. South West Water has invested millions of pounds to dramatically improve the bathing water quality at Plymouth Hoe West, Par and Instow which failed to meet the required standard in 2002. The £27 million Taw-Torridge 'Clean Sweep' project cleaned up the sandy beach at Instow, ultra violet disinfection was installed at Luxulyan to protect the Par bathing water. Storm water storage tanks were also installed at Plymouth sewage treatment works to safeguard the quality of Plymouth Hoe. South West Water is committed to continually improving the quality of coastal waters. The company has upgraded several storm water overflow monitors on the River Looe and has joined forces with the Environment Agency to closely monitor this area for pollution. Trelawne Manor holiday camp will shortly be connected to the public sewerage system to prevent poor quality effluent entering the river from the site and the local sewage treatment works will be upgraded to treat additional flows. The company will continue with several multi-million pound projects designed to meet the Urban Waste Water Directive and close down the remaining sewage outfalls by 2005. At Clovelly in North Devon South West Water will provide a comprehensive sewage treatment works. In Cornwall at Tintagel, Bossiney and Boscastle work will also be undertaken to improve sewerage facilities. "The massive 'Clean Sweep' programme has helped to safeguard the environment and improved the quality of life for the many thousands of people who enjoy recreational activities at the region's beaches," said Bob Baty, South West Water's Chief Executive. "South West Water is committed to building on this achievement by continuing to ensure that the record amount of good quality coastal waters remain protected". -ENDS- For further information please contact Dina Chandler, Communications Officer on 01392 443021 Published: 28 May 2004 Notes to Editor The Environment Agency places South West Water as the worse ranking water company by population size for its environmental performance. However in 2001 South West Water had the lowest number of pollution incidents and in 2002 the third lowest (along with United Utilities and Northumberian). Water company comparison figures are yet to be published for 2003. This ranking takes no account of differences in area served or climate. The company has more sewage treatment facilities in operation per population served than any other region. Over 600 sewage treatment works serve a rural resident population of just 1.6 million through a sewerage network of nearly 6,000 miles. The region also caters for over 8 million visitors and has significantly higher rainfall than other areas of the country. |
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