MORE than £6m is to be spent cleaning up the water at Saltburn after the beach dropped from the highest to the lowest category in the good beach guide.

Northumbrian Water announced the project after heavy rainfall last year meant pesticide, storm run-off and dog dirt was washed into the water.

A large amount of it went through combined sewerage overflow pipes, which drain directly into the sea.

The water company will use ultra violet disinfection, raise pumping capacity and create more underground storage to improve water quality by September 2015, ahead of strict new water standards coming into force.

An inspection by the Environment Agency last year showed water quality falling below EU minimum standards at the popular surfing beach.

Last week that led the Marine Conservation Society to downgrade Saltburn from “recommended” – the highest category – to “failing” – the lowest – in this year’s Good Beach Guide.

Graham Neave, Northumbrian Water’s operations director, said: “We are committed to playing our part to help the bathing waters at Saltburn meet the new standards for visitors to enjoy.

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

Tough new regulations coming into force in 2015 mean that if things do not improve at Saltburn it may have to display a sign on the beach warning of poor water quality, which would discourage visitors and damage the local economy.

Nick Noble, owner of Saltburn Surf Hire and Surf School, said: “It comes as no surprise to us.

“Of course we’re worried about the signs going up because people tend to react badly to that sort of thing, but until there is an improvement in infrastructure, there is always going to be a problem.

“You have got an increasing population which means the sewerage system is pushed to critical limits, new housing is being built and people are paving over gardens which means more water runs into the sea rather than being absorbed into the ground. I don’t think the council gives any thought to it at the planning stage, and they should do.”

A spokesman from Northumbrian Water said combined overflow pipes were sanctioned by the Environment Agency and necessary to prevent flooding. It said the pipes were only part of the cause of the poor water quality at Saltburn.

Andy Cummings, campaign director for Surfers Against Sewage, called on water companies to invest more in the “inadequate” sewage system.

“When water companies are making billions of pounds in profits, it would be nice to see them giving something back,” he said.

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