Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water has played a key part in helping Wales achieving a record number of Blue Flags awards, putting its beaches and marinas amongst the best in the UK and across the world.

While the water company is not responsible for directly managing the coastline and surrounding waters, Welsh Water said it will continue to play an active role by investing in its wastewater network to improve bathing water quality. There are a number of factors that impact bathing water which are beyond its control, including run off from agricultural and urban areas. 

For 2016 a total of 44 beaches and 3 marinas have been awarded the Blue Flag in Wales, with a further 26 beaches awarded a Green Coast Award and 92 beaches awarded a Seaside Award.

Commenting on Keep Wales Tidy’s announcement about the achievement, Steve Wilson, Welsh Water’s Director of Wastewater Services said:

“We’re delighted to see Wales retaining its position as having the best bathing waters in the UK. The results are also significant considering Wales has achieved over 30% of the UK’s Blue Flags on 15% of the British coastline.  Proportionally, it also places Wales as the winner of the most Blue Flags in the UK.”

“Where possible, we always try to enhance these valuable natural resources and have made huge strides over the past 20 years in treating the wastewater that comes from homes before it is returned to the environment. Since the 1990s, we have invested over £1 billion on upgrading or building new wastewater treatment works across the area we serve.”

“Before this, most wastewater was pumped, untreated back into the sea, leaving coastal waters, including areas used for bathing, below the high standards we have now come to expect. Further investment is planned in the coming five years as part of our £1.7 billion investment programme, including £8 million on the largest ever in the biggest ever coastal modelling investigation undertaken in Wales."