Every Welsh beach rated for bathing water quality – with most ‘excellent’ but one dubbed ‘poor’
The latest figures have been released, with over 75 sites in Wales classed as ‘excellent’ and nearly all the others rated as ‘good’ or ‘sufficient’, but one doesn’t make the mark.
The latest bathing water ratings for 2024 have been released, and it’s largely good news for Wales, with 75 out of the 110 sites receiving an ‘excellent’ rating. The majority of the remaining sites were classified as ‘good’ or ‘sufficient’, with only two beaches rated as ‘poor’.
Unfortunately for Rhyl, which has had its fair share of bad news this year with various closures, its main (Central) beach was one of those that didn’t make the cut. The 2024 classifications revealed that Prestatyn beach has been downgraded from ‘Excellent’ to ‘Good’, while Rhyl Central beach has been classified as ‘Poor’ – the only beach in north Wales to carry this rating into 2025.
Llandudno’s North Shore also only achieved a ‘Sufficient’ status, while its West Shore beach was rated ‘Good’. Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has pledged to continue working closely with partners to improve water quality across Denbighshire.
There was some better news at Rhyl’s Marine Lake, which improved from ‘Sufficient’ to ‘Good’. This positive change follows extensive behind-the-scenes work to identify and address the elevated bacteria levels that led to a ‘Poor’ status in 2022.
Both Prestatyn and Rhyl Central have been affected by environmental factors during periods of heavy rainfall, including agricultural land run off, sewage discharges and dirty water from urban drainage. The classification of Rhyl Central is closely linked to the influence of the River Clwyd, located just 800 meters west of the bathing area, reports North Wales Live.
The river’s water, pushed towards the shore by incoming tides, contains higher levels of bacteria, especially after wet weather. Similarly, Prestatyn’s water quality can be influenced by discharges from Rhyl Cut, located about 3 kilometres west of the beach, and the River Clwyd during high flows.
The classifications are based on a four-year dataset, providing a clearer picture of water quality trends over time. In 2023/24, eight separate projects were completed to help restrict livestock access to rivers, which can be a source of pollution.
These efforts included installing over 5,000 meters of fencing and setting up 27 new water troughs and watering systems to provide alternative sources of water for livestock. For the latest Welsh news delivered to your inbox sign up to our newsletter.
Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has been implementing measures to foster biodiversity and mitigate soil erosion, notably through the establishment of 115 meters of new hedgerows alongside watercourses.
This initiative has successfully established over 13,000m2 of secure riparian zones in the Clwyd catchment. In a concerted effort to usher in better water standards at sites like Rhyl Central and Prestatyn, NRW is also collaborating with various partners on forthcoming projects like the nature-based sewage treatment scheme in Tremeirchion.
It’s hoped that the wider health of the catchment should benefit from these endeavors. Commenting on this effort, NRW head of operations for North East Wales, Lyndsey Rawlinson, said: “Making sure our bathing waters are safe and clean is a top priority for us. The recent results for Prestatyn and Rhyl Central are not what we hoped for, but we are fully committed to working closely with partners in an attempt to improve the water quality at both sites.”
The Welsh Government has expressed approval of the general standings. Deputy First Minister, Huw Irranca-Davies, who is responsible for Climate Change, has praised the efforts of those involved in safeguarding our waters.
He said: “These results are a testament to the incredible work and dedication of so many people involved in safeguarding our waters. While we celebrate this progress, especially with so many of our world-class beaches meeting ‘Excellent’ quality, we remain focused on the future. Our goal is not just to maintain these high standards but to push further, ensuring our coastline and inland waters remain a source of pride for communities and visitors alike.”
He added: “This success underscores the importance of collective effort-from communities, water companies, and all partners-to build on this foundation. Every step, no matter how small, contributes to a cleaner, safer environment for future generations.”
In summary, the latest bathing water ratings for Welsh beaches have shown promising results, with the vast majority of sites being classified as ‘excellent’, ‘good’, or ‘sufficient’. However, efforts are underway to improve the water quality at sites like Rhyl Central and Prestatyn, which have been affected by environmental factors during heavy rainfall. Collaborative projects and initiatives led by Natural Resources Wales aim to enhance biodiversity and mitigate pollution for a cleaner and safer environment for all.