Going with the flow in Teignmouth
Officers from Teignbridge District Council and the Environment Agency are taking to the waters to check water flows with the little help of a harmless fluorescent dye.
Teignbridge and the Environment Agency are carrying out detailed water movement surveys at Teignmouth Beach on 17 and 25 March in an effort to help minimise the risk from pollution.
Fluorescent dye will be put into the water from a sewage overflow discharge location and water movements followed over spring and the smallest tides. The dye is not harmful to the environment or recreational water users, and will disperse naturally.
The survey will be taking place off Teignmouth Beach on Tuesday 25 March, 2014. A similar one was carried out on Monday March 17.
Officers will be on an Environment Agency boat and on shore to release the dye and map the water movement. The purpose of the study is to help improve understanding of how discharges from this pipe can affect the water quality in the sea at Teignmouth. It will also inform decisions about how both organisations advise beach users of any risk of reduced water quality in the sea.
Sewage from overflows is one of a number of sources of pollution that can reduce water quality at our bathing waters.
Cllr Kevin Lake, Teignbridge District Council’s Executive Spokesman for Environmental Services, said: “We love our beaches here in Teignbridge and we want everyone else to enjoy them too.
“Little actions like not feeding seagulls and putting dog mess in the bin at the beach can help because both dog mess and seagull poo is very high in bacteria and can affect water quality levels.
“The quality of water is important to the town, residents and traders. If the bathing water quality is not as it should be, it affects the economy and that in turn affects trade.
“This work provides an excellent opportunity for us to identify, trace and stop pollution from a variety of sources. Anything that we can all do to improve water quality and help people understand the issue is great news and should be encouraged.”
Nick Smart, for the Environment Agency in the South West, said: “Bathing water quality across the whole of the South West is extremely high but more needs to be done by water companies, businesses, farmers, local authorities and communities to help at risk bathing waters pass the new standards.
“The Environment Agency welcomes any opportunity to work with other communities and organisations to identify, trace and stop pollution and improve bathing water quality.”
Residents and businesses can help improve the local bathing water quality too by checking their own properties to see if the drains are connected up correctly.
Residents, businesses and tourists can also do their bit by respecting the beach environment and doing their bit to help keep the sands and water clean.
The weather will be taken into account, and the survey may need to be cancelled if it takes a turn for the worst.
For more information contact Teignbridge District Council Resorts Team or Environmental Health on 01626 779770 or 01626 215069, or email envc@teignbridge.gov.uk. Alternatively you can visit the Environment Agency’s website for help and advice.
