Hopes 'poor' water quality score will force action

A "poor" rating given to a swimming spot's water quality should "promote action", a rivers trust has said.

Derwentwater in the Lake District was awarded bathing status by the Environment Agency (EA) in May, meaning it had its water monitored weekly over the summer.

On Tuesday, the EA revealed the lake failed to meet its minimum standards this year. Other newly awarded sites given the lowest possible scores included one at Coniston, also in the Lake District, and Littlehaven Beach in South Shields.

West Cumbria Rivers Trust head Jodie Mills said the low score highlighted why the group had always wanted Derwentwater to be given bathing status.

The regular testing given to water bodies with the status meant the EA had to take the lake's water quality seriously, she said.

In its tests, the EA, which has been approached for comment, looks for specific bacteria in the water which indicate the presence of faecal matter.

Ms Mills said the governmental body had already started doing DNA tests on the water to discover the source of the problem.

"There are a lot of geese and birds that are fed there," she said. "It might be coming from that."

She said the lake was a major tourist spot and hosted sports events such as triathlons in the summer.

"Hopefully by then we'll know the source [of the problem]," she said, adding that such issues were rarely "fixed overnight".

The water at Coniston boating centre was also given a "poor" rating by the EA, and Coniston Parish Council, which campaigned for bathing status, has been approached for comment.

Littlehaven Beach also failed to meet minimum water quality standards this summer.

South Tyneside councillor Ernest Gibson said the local authority was already working with the EA and Northumbrian Water to investigate the issue.

"Unfortunately, there is no quick fix and we expect it will take a few years until the water quality meets our aspirations," he said.

"This is simply the start of our journey of improvement."

Northumbrian Water confirmed it was working with the EA, and said "many factors" could influence bathing water quality, such as agricultural and highway run-off.

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