East Cowes Esplanade has now been designated as a bathing water, meaning the Environment Agency will regularly test and monitor the seawater to ensure it is free from sewage or other pollutants, thus reassuring local residents and holidaymakers it is safe to bathe.
Following the replacement of a leaking sewage pipe between Cowes and the Springhill pumping station in East Cowes in 2012, concerns were raised by local residents that the seawater along the tranquil Esplanade beaches and in the River Medina estuary was also being polluted by discharges from that nearby pumping station. This led to the formation of the campaign group FAECES (Fight Against Environmental Contamination of Estuaries and Seafronts).
The FAECES team started by organising community beach cleans under the auspices of ‘Surfers Against Sewage’ and the ‘Campaign for the Preservation of Rural England’ in the Spring and Autumn of 2014. These Beach Cleans have been continued each year since and enthusiastically supported by many local residents and councillors, the most recent one was held in March 2022.
In 2015, FAECES decided to apply for the EU Bathing Water Quality Status and the team Lin Kemp, Angie Harris, Janice Douse and Michael Douse undertook the submission comprising many detailed comprehensive surveys with the assistance of many supportive local people. Unfortunately, that application was unsuccessful because the number of persons considered to be classified as bathers was disputed by the EU adjudicators.
In view of recent adverse national publicity aimed at Water Companies in 2021, FAECES decided it would be prudent to apply to DEFRA, who are now responsible for Bathing Water Quality Status. With the welcome financial support from the East Cowes Town Council, the FAECES team was able to organise regular seawater sampling which was then sent off for analysis.
These seawater sample results, together with yet more detailed surveys of beach usage and quality of the various shoreside facilities, were undertaken by many local residents and incorporated into the DEFRA submission, which has proven to have been successful.
East Cowes Esplanade has achieved DEFRA Bathing Water Quality Status and from the start of the 2022 summer season the testing and monitoring will begin.
Sweet. This should be done in each seaside tow . Is that actually costing much? I remember in scout boys we used to send water samples to test whether it’s safe to bath (lakes) or drink (wells) so it can’t really be breaking the budget.
Excellent news, but why do we have to wait until start of summer? Some bathe all year round in the water or immerse themselves in the sea throughout the year. Well done to FAECES team, now we have clean water status can we change the name to something more appealing?
Great, now get rid of the landslip.
But first you have to avoid all the dog poo along East Cowes explained before we you can get down on the beach !