STATISTICS produced by the Marine Conservation Society regarding water quality on Manx beaches are misleading, according to the government.
The MCS annual 'Good Beach Guide' report slammed the standards of water on Manx beaches, with only Derbyhaven being rated as being of “excellent water quality” for bathing.
However, Isle of Man Water Authority chairman Tim Crookall MHK said he was “disappointed” with the way in which the statistics were analysed by MCS, resulting in a series of negative headlines and broadcasts last week.
The MCS report said that only one beach in the Isle of Man out of 19 tested was good enough to be given the Marine Conservation Society’s top recommendation for bathing.
The report went on to say that five beaches on the Island failed the minimum legal water quality standard compared to three last year. The official MCS description of the beaches at Douglas Central, Gansey, Garwick, Laxey and Port Grenaugh is “bad water quality - swimming not advised.
None of the Island’s beaches achieved the “Guideline” standard. However, a number were graded with a “Basic Pass” - Castletown, Douglas Broadway, Douglas Summerhill, Fenella Beach Peel, Glen Wyllin, Jurby, Kirk Michael, Peel, Port Erin, Port Soderick, Port St Mary and Ramsey.
This year just over half of UK bathing beaches have been recommended by MCS for excellent water quality. In total, 769 beaches were sampled in the UK, Channel Islands and the Isle of Man from May to September 2009.
Mr Crookall challenged the MCS figures regarding the cost of the IRIS scheme, saying that expenditure on IRIS to date is ?88 million, not ?170 million.
He added, “Furthermore, the north and west of the Island have not yet been connected to IRIS. This is being addressed by the IRIS Regional Strategy, which the Authority is progressing at the moment.
“Prior to Meary Veg coming online in 2004, the failure rate of our beaches, when looking at the mandatory cleanliness levels set out by the EU’s Bathing Water Directive, was 54%. Today, that rate is 27%. Those percentages relate to the Island as a whole.”
Mr Crookall added, “However, beaches in the south and east have performed better in the last five years than the Island average, and taking these statistics into account, we are happy that IRIS is delivering.”
“Another factor that needs taking into account was last summer’s heavy rainfall – this resulted in run-off from fields bringing contaminants into rivers, which obviously affects the results of the water quality tests.”
Photo: Kirk Michael beach looking towards Peel - one of
the beaches given a "basic pass" in the MCS report (Bill Dale)
