1. Hastings, Bexhill and Littlestone Water Quality Project Clean Seas Please

2. What’s this all about  New European Union sea bathing water quality standard comes into force in 2015. Twice as stringent.  Amongst 55 other beaches around the country, Hastings and Littlestone could well fail this standard.  The consequence would be notices along the beaches and possible impact on local tourist trade.  HVA and RVA are working with the Environment Agency to raise awareness.

3. What’s this all about  The visitor economy to Hastings in 2011 was worth £239.9 million and supported 5160 jobs, 15.2% of all jobs in the town  30% of visitors said that going to the beach was the main reason for visiting Hastings.  86% of visitors walked along the seafront or went to the beach

4. What’s this all about  Hastings has the largest beach launched fishing fleet in Europe.  The traditional wooden boats trace their history back over 1,000 years and are a tourist attraction themselves.

5. What is the problem This photo was taken at lunchtime on 8th May 2013. There had been a heavy shower early that morning. It shows the confluence – between the tennis courts in Alexandra Park – of the stream from Old Roar Gill (entering top left) and the stream from Blacklands and Ore Valley (entering top right) before heading seawards (bottom right). The relative levels of pollution in the two tributaries is clearly evident.

6. What is the problem  The problem is the level of bacteria (E.coli and enterocci) in the sea water from pollution.  Southern Water 2 year investigation found main issue is with illegal connections to surface water pipes.  The pollution comes from both domestic and commercial properties.

7. What are the issues?  3 main issues:  Incorrect plumbing (wrong connections)  Ragging  Fats, Oils and Greases

8. Misconnections  Waste pipes from bath, sink, toilet, dishwasher or washing machine are plumbed into the rain water pipe (surface water) rather than the sewer (foul water) pipe.  Water and other materials in rain water pipes do not go through a “treatment works” but flow directly into the sea.

9. Misconnections

10. Ragging  Items that have been put down our toilet or sink that then attach to the pipes and cause blockages, decrease water flow and allow the build up of bacteria.  The only thing that should be flushed from the toilet are human waste and toilet paper, we should try to put everything else in a bin.

11. Fats, Oils and Grease  As a liquid they can be poured down the drain, but they solidify and harden in the pipes, causing restricted water flow and blockages.  Liquids can be poured into sealable containers and placed in household waste.  Solidified deposits can be scrapped and pans wiped with kitchen towel before washing.  Have a strainer over the plug hole to catch waste food, peelings etc.

12. What we are doing  Designing a range of images, posters and other materials  Using social media  Education – Shore Academy and Sussex Coast college  Developing a website, app and game  Yellow Fish  Attending events  Talking to groups, organisations, businesses and tradesmen

13. What we are doing

16. What can the LSP do  Sign up to our Campaign Formally as the LSP and individually  Encourage your staff, family and friends to sign up too  Add links between your websites and ours  Publish an article  Publicise the campaign where possible

17. What can we all do 1. DRAINS Check your drains. Make sure you are not allowing dirty water to run into local streams or rivers because your drains are wrongly connected. 2. DOGS Clean up after your dog when taking it for a walk. If left on streets or parks, its excrement will be washed into the water table. 3. SEPTIC TANKS If you house is connected to a septic tank, check that it is not leaking. 4. WASTE Do not flush wipes, cotton wool, nappies, dental floss (pictured) and other toiletries down the toilet. 5. FAT Make sure hot fat is not poured down pipes or flushed down toilets. 6. REUSE RAINWATER Catch rainwater in a water butt and use it for your garden. This reduces the amount of water running into surface drains. 7. LITTER Do not drop litter on streets or pavements, especially food waste. This encourages birds, in particular gulls, whose excrement can also foul bathing water and beaches. 8. LIVESTOCK Farmers should try to keep cattle and sheep away from riverbanks to reduce animal excrement that might get washed off the land. 9. CARAVANNING When on holiday, do not empty caravan chemical toilets into open drains. 10. IN THE GUTTER Only pour items down the drain that you would be happy to swim with.

18. What can we all do Misconnections  Have a look at the connection for your washing machine or dishwasher, it should be connected to the fatter pipe, or foul water sewer pipe. This is the same for toilets, bidets, sinks and baths.  If in doubt ask a plumber to have a look at it for you.  If you are in rented accommodation speak to your landlord.  It is the responsibility of the property owner to fix the problem and could incur a penalty if left.

19. What can we all do Ragging  Think about what you are putting in the toilet before flushing, whether that is at home or using a public toilet.  Packets that say the contents are flushable doesn’t mean that the product goes straight to a treatment plant and/or removed from the water system.  This includes items such as sanitary or incontinence products, condoms, contact lenses, cotton buds or bandages. Any types of wipes, baby, facial or cleaning. Razor blades, needles, syringes of medicines.  Put these items in a bin in your bathroom.  We all pay for blockages to be resolved in our water bills.  What flushes down, washes up!

20. What can we all do Fats, Oils and Grease  Pour liquid fats into a sealable container and dispose in your household waste.  Or leave to congeal and scrap off and wipe with disposable kitchen paper before washing.  All pots, pans, crockery and utensils should be scraped and wiped with kitchen paper before washing in sink or dishwasher.  Kitchen paper should then be disposed in the household waste.  Have a sink strainer to prevent food waste or peelings from entering your drains. This can be in bath or shower to stop hair clogging the drain.

21. What will we achieve?