Bathing Waters on the River Almond
Earlier this year, Forth Rivers Trust in conjunction with West Lothian Council applied for a section of the River Almond to become officially designated bathing waters. The section of the river we have applied for is in the heart of Almondell & Calderwood Country Park in West Lothian, upstream from the Nasmyth Bridge.
This area was chosen as it runs right alongside the wildflower meadow, and it’s a popular central spot for visitors to the park to visit. The stretch of the Almond here is very well used by visitors – people are regularly seen swimming, paddling, kayaking, or just generally guddling around in the river. It is an especially lovely place to be during the summer months, when the meadow is filled wildflowers, butterflies and bees buzzing about. On a sunny summer’s day, families, dog walkers, and nature enthusiasts visit the river and the meadow as they journey through the Country Park.
Almondell Meadow – Paul Watt
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) designate areas of bathing water under the Bathing Waters (Scotland) Regulations 2008. The water quality of these areas is monitored throughout the bathing season, from 1st June to 15th September. SEPA then classifies the general water condition of the area as excellent, good, sufficient, or poor. The waters are classified at the end of the season, and the results are displayed at the beginning of the following season. SEPA typically tests water samples for Escherichia coli and intestinal enterococci, and makes observations at bathing waters for cyanobacterial (blue-green algae) blooms, macroalgae (seaweed), marine phytoplankton and other waste.
There are currently 85 designated bathing waters in Scotland, and 31 of these sites have live screens to show daily updates on water quality throughout the bathing season. Most of these sites are coastal – only three of Scotland’s bathing waters are inland, and none of them are rivers.
However, last year a new precedent was set when a stretch of the River Wharfe in Ilkley, West Yorkshire, became the UK’s first river to be designated as bathing water. Following a two-year campaign by the Ilkley Clean River Group over sewage pollution issues the site was designated by the Environment Agency in December 2020. The local community hopes that the frequent and stricter water quality testing that will now be carried out will lead to greater action being taken to reduce pollution in the area.
River Wharfe, Ilkley, West Yorkshire
It is with these same hopes that we have now applied for bathing water status for the River Almond in conjunction with West Lothian Council. This area has a long history of people from the nearby communities coming down to enjoy the river, and we want that to be able to continue into the future. However, there are significant pollution issues arising from the Sewage Treatment Works further upstream, and stricter monitoring of the water quality that designated bathing waters benefit from will hopefully lead to safer water conditions for everyone who uses the river.
A family enjoying a picnic by the river in spring
Forth Rivers Trust staff and members of the Friends Of Almondell & Calderwood Country Park and River Almond Action Group will be out over the summer carrying out surveys to count how many people use the river during the bathing season. We will then submit this information to SEPA at the end of the season to go with our application. If you see us when we’re out and about come and say hi!
To find out more about the application and share your thoughts, click here: