Bathing Waters and the North West Approach

Bathing Waters and the North West Bathing waters and the North West The North West has 32 designated bathing waters stretching from the Wirral to West Cumbria including the 3 major resorts of Blackpool, Southport and Morecambe. There has been a significant improvement in bathing water quality with compliance improving from 18% in 1988 to 88% in Over this period we have invested nearly £1 billion in improvements to the sewerage infrastructure. However there continue to be challenges and in 2013 four of the five failing bathing waters in England were in the North West. Bathing water quality is not only important to the health of the public and the environment but also to the health of the North West economy The introduction of new tighter standards as part of the revised Bathing Water Directive poses a real risk to the number of sites which achieve the required standards and this comes into force in 2015.

Bathing Water Quality – latest results against the new standards Excellent Good Sufficient Poor

Marine and Terrestrial Development Workshop Outcomes and Measures of Success

OutcomeMeasureDirection Your wastewater is removed and treated without you ever noticing Wastewater Network Performance Index Private Sewers Service Index The risk of sewer flooding for homes and businesses is reduced Future Flood Risk Sewer Flooding Index The North West’s bathing and shellfish waters are cleaner through our work and that of others Contribution to Bathing Waters Improved The natural environment is protected and improved in the way we deliver our services Maintaining our Wastewater Treatment Works Contribution to Rivers Improved (wastewater programme) Satisfactory Sludge Disposal Wastewater Pollution Index Rivers Protected from Deterioration due to Population Growth Wastewater Outcomes and Measures of Success - Stable - Improvement

During AMP5 we are investing more than £250 million on bathing water improvements across the region including the £120 million Preston Tunnel scheme. Our business plan submission for AMP6 seeks a further £251 million for bathing water and shellfish water improvements in addition to maintenance funding requirements. All of the AMP6 bathing water and shellfish investment is currently included within our transitional investment programme. Work has been ongoing with the field teams to review existing asset performance and approximately £6 million is being invested to resolve issues arising from this review. We are currently undertaking preseason asset checks ahead of the start of the bathing season. Our Actions

Bathing and Shellfish Water Investment Proposed AMP6 rBWD/SfWD Driver AMP5 rBWD/SfWD Driver AMP6 Shellfish only driver – subject to review

Proposed AMP6 rBWD/SfWD Driver AMP5 rBWD/SfWD Driver AMP6 Shellfish only driver – subject to review

Providing more information to the public Over the last few years, the Cleaner Seas Forum (a Defra led stakeholder forum) has been working together on a voluntary scheme to implement CSO warning systems. These warning systems serve to provide information about a possible increased risk of poor water quality and are now accepted as best practice around the country. In 2013 we trialled the system at 4 sites, providing information on the operation of our overflows directly onto our external website and to Surfers Against Sewage who operate a text messaging service and mobile phone app. We will be expanding the system by at least 6 sites this year and are currently developing the approach for full roll out across the region.

Coastal Modelling

Coastal Modelling

Sources of Pollution – Regional Summary 9% 5% 25% 12% 9% 5% 35% Agriculture Other e,g. birds, dogs WC STW WC CSO & EO Private Sewage Misconnections Urban run-off

Working Together – Turning Tides Turning Tides is a cross-sector partnership that seeks to maximise North West investment by supporting collaboration and project delivery that protects and improves bathing water quality. The vision of Turning Tides is to secure: “Bathing waters we can be proud of, that are valued by communities and that support a vibrant economy." The partnership is chaired by Neil Jack, Blackpool Council’s Chief Executive The key objectives of Turning Tides are to: Inspire and change perceptions and values of key decision makers, politicians, the private sector and the wider community Collaboratively strive to raise the quality of NW bathing waters Identify and raise awareness of funding streams for NW bathing water improvements. Empower people, businesses and communities through communications, knowledge and tools to take action to deliver bathing water improvements

Working Together - LOVEmyBEACH LOVEmyBEACH is the external facing campaign of Turning Tides A Turning Tides Communications Manager has been appointed to develop the campaign and manage communications and press releases. This role is jointly funded by UU and the EA until August Three local LOVEmyBEACH groups have been established with full-time LOVEmyBEACH co-ordinators, funded by the EA with some financial and ‘in kind’ contributions being made by UU. Fylde (EA, UU, KBT, Blackpool Council, Merlin Entertainments) Sefton (EA, UU, KBT, Sefton Council, British Destinations) Morecambe Bay (EA, UU, Morecambe Bay Partnership, Lancaster City Council, Barrow Council) The groups are focused on engaging with the wider community and helping them to understand how they can all play a role in improving bathing waters. This includes the general public, business, schools and volunteer groups.

Working Together – Community Examples

Questions

Short term pollution & discounting STP has to be predictable and less than 72 hours LA must place a sign at the bathing water If a sample is taken during STP it can be discounted and replacement used We can discount maximum of 15% of results

Impact of discounting 2013 results at Cleveleys Monday 29 th July 2013 – 1900 E coli/100ml Without discounting Removing 1 bad result Removing 2 bad results 95%ile (500) %ile (500) Poor Sufficient Blackpool South - 730/100ml; Blackpool Central - 790/100ml; Blackpool North - 590/100ml; Bispham - 800/100ml