Testing the water

Last week I wrote to Blackpool Council in support of Fylde Coast Against Sewage and its efforts to fill the gaps in the Environment Agency’s water quality testing along our coastline.

This year FCAS has been testing water quality in St Annes and Fleetwood with support from local councils. The results of the testing have shown that, even during testing periods, EA data does not give a full picture of pollution levels in our seas – something that is vital in allowing us to understand the scale of the problem and hold polluters to account.

The EA only tests water quality between May and September. During this 153-day period this year, pollution warnings were issued across Blackpool’s beaches for 59 days. That means that for almost 40% of Blackpool’s summer season our sea was unsafe for locals and visitors to enjoy. In September there wasn’t a single safe day.

Sewage discharges often occur after heavy rainfall and, now the EA’s testing period has come to an end, I feel it is urgent that we get a handle on the situation which will no doubt be worse over the winter months.

In a meeting with council representatives this summer, I urged representatives to work with FCAS to extend their testing to Blackpool. I am pleased to hear that the group has since met with the council’s head of coastal and environmental partnership investments but is awaiting further instructions on whether the council will fund its testing – it only requires a relatively small pot of money.

In my letter, I urged the council again to allow FCAS to begin this important work as soon as possible. It is vital that we gain a better understanding of the state of our sea so we can hold those who continue to pollute it to account.  

For more background on my work to tackle sewage in Blackpool, click here.