Agenda item

Report of the Assistant Director of Housing and Environment - Water Quality in the Tendring District

As set out in the Committee’s approved Work Programme, this Committee’s meeting is to undertake (at this meeting) an enquiry into water quality.  This report is intended to support this enquiry.  In addition relevant invitees will be present to assist the Committee’s enquiry.

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report of the Assistant Director (Housing & Environment) which would provide it with statistical evidence and data regarding the quality of Seawater, Freshwater Courses and Drinking Water within the District of Tendring.

 

The data collated had been obtained, principally, via the Environment Agency, along with further information on water quality and data around Private Water Supplies and Oyster beds provided by the Council’s Environmental Health Service.

 

At the meeting the Portfolio Holder for the Environment & ICT (Councillor Smith) introduced this item by way of a statement he read out.

 

The Environmental Health Manager (Grant Fenton-Jones) gave a brief overview of the report, drawing out its salient points and especially the information contained within the appendices. He reported that, overall, the bathing and drinking water quality was excellent and for bathing there were only two areas of minor concern i.e. Holland Haven and Mistley/Manningtree.

 

Mr. Fenton-Jones informed the Committee that, since January 2024, third party water distributor/supplier inspections (e.g. caravan park sites) had been an extra burden on the Team’s statutory workload.

 

Mr. Fenton-Jones also reported that Natural England were in the process of commissioning a bio-diversity study and action plan for the Stour and Orwell Rivers which would especially focus on invasive species and their impact on water quality. He undertook to keep the Committee updated.

 

Committee Member asking the Question

Question (summary form)

Individual giving the response (if any)

Response (if any) (Summary form)

Councillor Griffiths

How would the Council carry out its Regulation 8 inspections on mobile home sites with intermittent use and seasonal use caravan parks.

Grant Fenton-Jones

The Team’s focus would be on sampling sites that used stored water and a pump supply. The site owners would need to carry out a Legionella risk assessment as part of the licensing regime before that site could re-open for the new season. For those sites with a mains supply the focus would be a robust examination of that site’s customer safety policies and practices.

Councillor Doyle

How will the Council ensure that the new housing targets will be met without overloading the water supply and foul and surface water drainage systems?

Grant Fenton-Jones

Anglian Water’s willingness to grant Discharge Consents will be a necessary and significant factor in achieving the required growth in housing supply. Environmental Health will work closely with Planning colleagues as a consultee on planning applications on matters such as SuDS attenuation; climate change amelioration; encouragement of ‘grey water’ recycling; separation of ‘foul’ water from rainwater.

Councillor Barrett

Can you confirm that the misuse of storm drain overflows is a low level issue for Anglian Water in this District?

Grant Fenton-Jones

Yes, 100%. This District is doing well currently and is expected to improve even further over the next ten years.

Councillor Davidson

Does the Environmental Health Team regular the Dock River at Parkeston?

Tim Clarke

No, that is an Environment Agency responsibility.

Councillor Doyle

Does this Council actively advise the public that Gull poo is toxic?

Grant Fenton-Jones

The Council is already responding to a similar enquiry about problems caused by pigeons and so that work could be expanded to include Gulls.

 

It was moved by Councillor Davidson, seconded by Councillor Doyle and:-

 

RESOLVED that the Committee –

 

(a)    welcomes the reports on water quality and that this demonstrates the generally good news story for the District and its water quality;

 

(b)    also welcomes the biodiversity action plan being developed for the Stour and Orwell rivers; and

 

(c)    notes the opportunities to be explored around visiting the sewage treatment work at Holland Haven; the company in Harwich who are taking sewage waste and converting it into energy bricks and clean water; and the Brightlingsea Harbour Commissioners in respect of the research project being undertaken with the University of Essex.

 

 

Supporting documents: