A £6 million scheme to ensure the bathing water at Saltburn passes tighter new European quality standards has been announced by Northumbrian Water.

The improvements will include transferring waste water from the small Dunsdale works for treatment with ultra violet disinfection at Marske sewage works and discharge to sea through the existing long sea outfall. Currently after treatment at Dunsdale the waste water goes into Skelton Beck.

Northumbrian Water will also increase pumping capacity at Tocketts Bridge Pumping Station so more storm water is sent from Guisborough to Marske sewage works when it rains.

Furthermore, there will be more underground storage on existing sites at the former Guisborough sewage works and Layland Bridge pumping station at Skelton for stormwater. Stored stormwater will be pumped into the sewer to Marske treatment works and a total of four times more underground storage capacity will be created at the two sites.

The work is planned to be completed by September 2015 and ready for when the new bathing water season starts on 15 May, 2016.

Graham Neave, Northumbrian Water’s Operations Director, said:

“We are committed to playing our part to help the bathing water at Saltburn meet the new standards for visitors to enjoy.

“We have carried out an extensive three year investigative study throughout the whole catchment of Skelton, Brotton, Boosbeck, Lingdale and Guisborough at a cost of £370,000 which has identified work we can do to help improve the bathing water quality.

“This study has been carried out in partnership with the Environment Agency and Redcar and Cleveland Council.

“Detailed designing of the scheme will now begin as we work with planners and local residents to finalise the plans,” said Mr Neave.

Bathing water standards for the 2016 bathing season will demand greater quality to pass the tighter standard of ‘sufficient’ which will replace the ‘mandatory’ category.