Farmers help in efforts to improve bathing water in popular seaside town

Farmers are helping efforts to improve water quality in a North Wales river that affects the bathing water of a popular seaside town.

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) is working with local farmers along the river Clwyd to reduce pollution from agriculture, which can have a detrimental impact on Rhyl beach.

The message is that small changes in farm practices can make a big difference to water quality in nearby streams, rivers and coastal waters.

Over the coming months, NRW staff will visit more than 400 farms in the lower Clwyd area, providing advice on how best to protect the river from agricultural pollution.

Measures include making sure slurry is managed and spread carefully, avoiding run-off from compacted soil, preventing stock from entering streams, controlling run-off from dairy tracks and ensuring clean and dirty water are kept separate.

As well as advice, NRW officers will steer some farmers towards Welsh Government grants if they need specific help to improve pollution prevention.

Bethan Beech, NRW Team Leader for Denbighshire said: “One of our priorities is to maintain and improve the water quality of bathing waters and Rhyl Beach is a key area of work for us.

“In recent years, we’ve ensured improvements in major sewage infrastructure in the lower Clwyd, including Welsh Water’s assets, private dischargers and urban drainage.

“But we know there is more that can be done to reduce small-scale pollution from agriculture. By making lots of small, individual improvements I hope we can enjoy cleaner rivers and bathing waters.”

'Responsibilities'

The initiative is supported by the farming unions in Wales. NFU Cymru said farmers take their environment responsibilities seriously, and will work with farmers to take action to improve water quality.

Gavin Williams, Farmers' Union of Wales (FUW) Land Use Committee Chairman said: “I know that the FUW have been collaborating with other stakeholders in the sub-group on agriculture pollution of the Wales Land Management Forum, to explore ways of mitigating point-source and diffuse pollution.

“No farmer wants to pollute surface or ground waters and we will continue to explore ways to enhance water quality in Clwyd and across Wales.”

Farmers will be invited to local meetings in prioritised areas and a national awaneness programme will be launched shortly.