Dye tests to throw light on seaside pollution

The water company is part of an alliance of local authorities and public bodies steering a 110m investment programme to make Yorkshire's beaches the envy of the world when new EU standards to promote cleaner oceans come into force in 2015.

However, the spending is being targeted at the large resort towns of Scarborough, Bridlington, and Filey with resources for other coastal settlements, including Whitby, being limited to more research to understand what other factors, other than Yorkshire Water's network of infrastructure, is impacting on water quality.

One of the investigative tools being used is a harmless read dye to measure patterns around sewerage outfalls.

Yesterday it was announced

the method is to be used to test the waters around Runswick

Bay.

The aim is to monitor how long it takes for discharges to reach the sea and the effect of underwater currents and tides.

Bathing water strategy manager Lee Pitcher said: "The dye itself is completely inert and is not harmful in any way to plants and wildlife.

"Over the course of the next few days, we'll be releasing a small amount from our outfalls and then tracking where it goes.

Dye-testing was undertaken in Scarborough and Bridlington back in 2008, with similar work

recently completed at Filey, Staithes, Sandsend, Whitby, Skipsea, Withernsea and Robin Hoods Bay.

Yorkshire Water officials believe any problems at Runswick Bay are being caused by muck from farmland washing into the stream that discharges into the sea.

But Euro MP Tim Kirkhope maintains the strategy is wrong and resorts such as Staithes need engineering work, not more testing.