Teamwork with councils to protect bathing water
We have joined forces with our regions' councils to protect bathing water
Our bathing water partnership manager, Phil Cresswell-Nash, is on a mission to scatter Yellow Fish around our region’s 700 miles of coast
They aren’t real fish, but stickers and stencils, as we team up with councils around the coast to tackle a hidden threat to beach water quality -and even public health.
The Yellow Fish campaign puts notices beside surface water drains close to the shore asking that ‘Only rain goes down this drain.’
This is to highlight what can happen when people put anything from dog poo or cigarette ends down a roadside drain – or even empty a campervan portaloo.
Phil said:
“People think that all drains send what’s in them to our wastewater treatment works – but that simply isn’t true. Many roadside drains go straight into water courses or onto the beach."
With councils keen to find ways to protect and improving bathing water quality in their district, the Yellow Fish campaign is being welcomed as a low cost but high impact way to intervene.
Councils in Bognor, Worthing and Shoreham in Sussex have already put the notices up.
Now the campaign is spreading to Bexhill up the coast and Southsea in Hampshire.
Phil added:
“I’d like to see Yellow Fish on every seaside street – and councils are raring to get going.
“By making small changes we can all help to reduce pollution entering our rivers and seas which then helps to keep the local bathing water clean - this is the tip of iceberg and we must do more to protect our seas, rivers and streams for future generations.”
And Rob Butson, Bathing Water Manager for Southern Water, said:
“It’s vital we all work together to protect our beautiful beaches and bathing waters. Campaigns like Yellow Fish really help engage the community and spread the message that only rain should go down the drain!"