The first seawater quality test of the summer in Eastbourne has come back perfect, the town’s MP Caroline Ansell said today.
The Environment Agency conducted the test earlier this month – the first one of the bathing season that continues until September.
No traces of any contaminants were found and it was rated excellent in a boost for local bathers and tourists alike.
“This is very good news for the health of our seawater off Eastbourne and it shows that by working in partnership we can achieve better water quality,” said Caroline.
“Southern Water’s misconnections team continues its work in the town identifying wrongly connected sewage pipes and the Environment Agency is monitoring our coast.
“Last year’s rating was good and the ambition is for us to have an excellent rating this year. So far, we are on track. I will be keeping in close touch with the Environment Agency over the summer months to find out the latest results as they come in.”
Caroline was supporting a Private Members Bill that proposed a new law to make seawater testing all year round to reflect that many people now swim in the sea in the winter months too.
This includes Eastbourne swimmers that Caroline has engaged with over their concerns water testing should be all year round.
The General Election announcement this week means the bill will now fall but Caroline said she hopes it is resurrected in the next parliament. If re-elected she will continue to support it.
Work to help storm overflows deal with sudden rainfall has also made progress. Caroline’s link up with Southern Water to give Eastbourne households 100 free slow-release water butts has been a success.
The butts allow water to be stored during bouts of heavy rain. A trial on the Isle of Wight showed them to be effective.
The MP said 60 butts have been installed, the other 40 have been allocated and she will return to Southern Water to ask for more as there are now hundreds interested in having one.
“It is disappointing the bill I was supporting to have all year water testing will now have to wait but hopefully I can become law in the next parliament,” Caroline explained.
“Until then work to stop too much rainwater overloading storm drains is going well. I am delighted we have now installed or allocated the first 100 butts. As more and more come online it will make a difference to how much water goes into the storm drains. This will limit the amount of pollution that goes into our seas and it shows that we can all do our bit.”
