Did you know a washing machine or a toilet connected to the wrong sewer could be affecting water quality at beaches across the North West? These misconnections can result in polluting waste water being washed directly into the sea.
Did you know a washing machine or a toilet connected to the wrong sewer could be affecting water quality at beaches across the North West?
These misconnections, which bypass sewage treatment works, can result in polluting waste water being washed directly into the sea.
As part of the Environment Agency’s ongoing work to improve the region’s bathing water quality, they are reviewing sewer plans, and using dye tracing and CCTV to identify and tackle these misconnections. This water based detective work will stretch along the North West coast from Formby, Merseyside through to Skinburness in Cumbria.
Sam Billington, Environment Agency Project Manager, said: “Bathing water quality in the UK has improved dramatically over the past two decades, but we need to do more to meet even higher standards. By using CCTV and dye tracing we will be able to pin point these smaller sources of pollution which, when added together, can have a significant impact on bathing water quality.”
The Environment Agency is encouraging homeowners, hoteliers and business premises to check if they have any misconnections. The first steps are simple – just log to www.connectright.org.uk which contains easy to understand advice on how to check your plumbing and what do next if you notice a misconnection.
Sam continues: “Tracing these misconnections complements our continued work with farmers, beach-users, water companies and local authorities to identify and tackle all sources of pollution to help the North West meet the higher bathing water standards which come into force in 2015.”
In total, Cumbria, Lancashire and Merseyside have 31 designated coastal bathing waters, where the quality of the water is monitored by the Environment Agency between May and September.
