Members of Muscle Beach Swimming Club, Mark Smith, Susie Johnson and Caroline Keylock, have been helping test the seawater at Worthing Beach House, one of the town’s three designated bathing sites.
The site was rated poor by the Environment Agency last year – the lowest rating on the scale.
The group regularly swims off the section of beach opposite Splashpoint Leisure Centre.
The samples they collect are currently taken to King Alfred Leisure Centre in Hove, which houses a Southern Water-funded testing lab capable of measuring levels of E.coli over a 15-hour time period.
Brighton and Hove Sea Check is a group of citizen scientists who test sea water twice a week in Brighton and Hove.
The team, made up of around 12 volunteers, uses a Fluidion testing kit to check E.coli levels, which, they say, are good or excellent “more often than not”.
The group shares the results on social media for public awareness.
Now, Southern Water is supporting a new citizen science testing facility in Worthing, which will be hosted by South Downs Leisure at Splashpoint Leisure Centre.
It will enable testing by volunteers at each of Worthing’s designated bathing sites.
Councillor Vicki Wells, Worthing’s cabinet member for environmental services, recently joined members of the swimming club to test the seawater and is keen to ensure citizen scientist contributions help build an accurate picture of the town’s water quality.
She said: “I’m delighted that Worthing will have its own dedicated citizen science water quality monitoring facility.
“Bacterial pollution has a number of sources and we’ve had incredible support from local MPs, residents and stakeholders for this initiative which will help pinpoint pollution hotspots, to improve our marine environment.”
‘We just want clean water’
The Argus spoke to Mark Smith, Muscle Beach Swimming Club member, back in June as part of our Protect Sussex Waters campaign.
Mr Smith said: “I was one of the early people to help set it up.
“We’re just a group of people that love to swim. Everyone does it for different reasons.
“Some for mental health, some for physical health.
“For me it’s very much from a mental health point of view.
“You always come out with a smile on your face. It makes you feel good.”
The swimming club raised the alarm after Worthing Beach House was rated poor by the Environment Agency and it was awarded a “brown flag”.
“We started making a bit of a noise because we just want clean water”, Mr Smith added.
He said that members of the group have reported stomach problems and ear infections, which is believed to have been caused by swimming in the sea.
“It’s vitally important that bathing sites are clean,” he said.
He also spoke out about the need for a change to the testing system, due to the fact that the “do not swim” warning from the Environment Agency remains in place all year, despite weekly tests often being “good”.
At the time, Mr Smith said the group was in talks with their local councillor to see if citizen testing could be set up in Worthing all year round to “give people more confidence”.
This week, Mr Smith told The Argus: “We are very excited to hear that Worthing will be getting its own citizen science testing equipment in the near future.
“This will enable local swimming groups to monitor water quality on a regular basis, cross referencing the results with those of the Environmental Agency.
“It’s a very positive step and thanks to all involved who are making this possible, but there remains much work to be done to clean up our sea.”
‘We finally have a government that is serious about getting this sorted’
East Worthing MP Tom Rutland has also celebrated the news, writing that the government is “holding the water companies to account, improving our water quality and infrastructure and supporting citizen engagement”.
Mr Rutland said: “I am really pleased to share the news from Worthing Borough Council that as a result of my work with Peter Kyle MP’s office – and with thanks to the diligent work of Cllr Vicki Wells and my constituents from East Worthing’s Muscle Beach Swimming Club – Worthing will have its own dedicated citizen science water quality monitoring facility fully funded by Southern Water and generously supported by South Downs Leisure, that will serve both East Worthing and Shoreham and Worthing West.
“Since I was elected last July, improving water quality and infrastructure locally has been one of my key priorities.
“Just last week, I met with Southern Water’s senior leadership team in Westminster to discuss their investment and infrastructure plans and I have been a proactive supporter of the landmark Water (Special Measures) Act.
“The week before, I met with the Environment Agency on Shoreham beach to talk about their water quality monitoring work at our bathing water sites. There’s no issue I’ve raised more often in the House of Commons chamber.
“I am proud that this Labour government is holding the water companies to account, improving our water quality and infrastructure, and supporting citizen engagement.
“I will continue to work with and for all of my constituents to clean up our seas and rivers following years of mismanagement under previous governments.
“It will take time, but we finally have a government that is serious about getting this sorted.”
The Argus is continuing with its Protect Sussex Waters campaign, which highlights and delves into the issue of water pollution in our sea and at bathing sites.
We have three objectives for our summer campaign:
- Greater transparency for beach goers – the installation of an electronic sign displaying pollution data at Worthing beach house, the same as Aldwick beach.
- Holding water bosses to account – getting pledges of improvement from Southern Water CEO, Lawrence Gosden.
- Gaining political backing – having members of Parliament raise the issue in the House of Commons.
We are speaking to politicians, Southern Water and environmental bosses on the issue and will hold them to account on what they are doing to clean up our waters.
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