Collaborative action planned to improve Prestatyn and Rhyl Central bathing waters
Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has vowed to continue to work closely with partners in an attempt to improve water quality across Denbighshire after the latest bathing water classifications.
The bathing water classifications for 2024 revealed that Prestatyn beach moved from ‘Excellent’ to ‘Good’, while Rhyl Central beach has been classified as ‘Poor’ – the only beach in North Wales to receive this rating in 2025.
Despite the setbacks at Prestatyn and Rhyl Central, the latest classifications show a further improvement at Marine Lake, which has risen from ‘Sufficient’ to ‘Good’. This positive change follows extensive work behind the scenes to identify and address the elevated bacteria levels that led to a ‘Poor’ status in 2022.
Both Prestatyn and Rhyl Central have been impacted by environmental factors during periods of heavy rainfall, including agricultural land run off, sewage discharges and dirty water from urban drainage.
Rhyl Central’s classification is closely linked to the influence of the River Clwyd, located just 800 meters west of the bathing area. The river’s water, pushed towards the shore by incoming tides, contains higher levels of bacteria, especially after wet weather.
Similarly, Prestatyn’s water quality can be affected by discharges from Rhyl Cut, located about 3 kilometres west of the beach, and the River Clwyd during high flows.
The classifications are based on a four-year dataset, giving a clearer picture of water quality trends over time.
While these results are disappointing, NRW and partners will continue to take steps in an attempt to improve the situation through a range of initiatives aimed at reducing bacteria in the Clwyd catchment area.
In 2023/24, eight separate projects were completed to help restrict livestock access to rivers, which can be a source of pollution. These efforts included installing over 5,000 meters of fencing and setting up 27 new water troughs and watering systems to provide alternative sources of water for livestock.
Additionally, NRW has worked to increase biodiversity and reduce soil erosion by planting 115 meters of hedgerows along watercourses. These hedgerows act as natural barriers, preventing animals from entering waterways and reducing nutrient run-off, which can lead to poor water quality. This work has created over 13,000m2 of protected riparian zones (land that borders a body of water) within the Clwyd catchment.
NRW is also continuing to work closely with partners on upcoming schemes like the one in Tremeirchion, which uses nature-based solutions to treat sewage. These initiatives will not only try to improve water quality at specific bathing sites like Rhyl Central and Prestatyn but should also contribute to the overall health of the catchment.
Lyndsey Rawlinson, NRW Head of Operations for North East Wales, said:
"Making sure our bathing waters are safe and clean is a top priority for us. The recent results for Prestatyn and Rhyl Central are not what we hoped for, but we are fully committed to working closely with partners in an attempt to improve the water quality at both sites.
“Over the past few years, we’ve worked with local landowners to reduce the amount of nutrients, sediment, and animal waste entering rivers like the Clwyd. These efforts have made a difference, but there is still a lot of work to do.
“We will continue to carry out our regulatory duties to ensure water quality compliance. Additionally, we will review the accuracy of the daily bathing water quality prediction system for Rhyl and Prestatyn, in preparation for next year’s bathing water season.
"By working together with partners and landowners, we will try to help address the challenges affecting our waters and take meaningful steps toward long-term improvement. We remain committed to supporting our local communities and protecting our natural environment for future generations."