The Environment Agency say changes to the permits for discharging waste from Scarborough's Wheatcroft Outfall will give them more control over discharge from the long sea outfall.
The 2.5km long pipe is owned by Yorkshire Water and was refurbished in 2016 as part of works to improve water quality on the Yorkshire Coast. It discharges treated effluent from the McCain food processing factory.
One of the permits held by McCain Foods is part of a nationwide review of all food industry permits taking place this year, another is expected to be issued to Yorkshire Water and will replace temporary measures that have been in place for a number of years.
Claire Barrow from the Environment Agency told local councillors that the new permit will reflect the latest water quality standards.
The Agency say there are three permits for the Wheatcroft LSO.
One is a permit held by McCains and issued by the Environment Agency which requires specific monitoring of the effluent entering the sewer. This permit, along with all similar permits in the food and drink sector, is due to be reviewed this year, due to clarifications in legislation.
There is also a permit held by McCains and issued by Yorkshire Water Services Ltd which regulates the discharge of McCains trade effluent discharge to the sewer. This effluent is the sole component of the discharge of Wheatcroft Long Sea Outfall (LSO).
The third permit is about to be issued to Yorkshire Water and replaces temporary measures which have been in place since the Wheatcroft pipe was replaced in 2016. The Environment Agency say:
"There was a permit held by Yorkshire Water Services and issued by the Environment Agency which permits the discharge of disinfected trade
effluent arising from potato processing from McCains potato factory to be discharged to sea via the NEW long sea outfall.However, due to the failure of the original LSO a few years ago, and its subsequent replacement by Yorkshire Water Services, it was decided that new permits needed to be issued. This is because the actual discharge point had moved, due to the increased length of the new LSO, and its slight change in angle relative to the shore. This permit is undergoing final assessments and is due to be issued in the near future. In the intervening period, this discharge has been regulated under a Local Enforcement Position."
The Environment Agency say the new permit to control discharge from Scarborough's Wheatcroft Outflow will give them tighter controls over the effluent being discharged from the pipe.
But local councillors are warning that it wont fix all of the South Bay's water quality issues.
The water quality at Scarborough’s South Bay is rated as “poor” on the Environment Agency’s (EA) Swimfo website which has also issued “advice against bathing.”
Councillor David Chance thinks there are a number of factors at play.
At a recent meeting of the Scarborough and Whitby Area Constituency Committee, officers from the Environment Agency conceded that more needs to be done to improve water quality.
At the meeting, councillors urged the Environment Agency and Yorkshire Water to take a stronger approach to improving and regulating water quality whilst warning about the potential economic impacts on coastal tourism.
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