Lancing beach to be investigated with dye

The aim is to identify if water courses from Teville Stream and Brooklands Lake in Worthing impact on bathing water quality in Lancing.

The investigation is being conducted on Monday, as part of Adur and Worthing Council’s short-term pollution scheme after it was identified that Lancing Beach Green did not achieve the guideline levels for stringent bathing water limits in 2015.

A spokesperson for Adur and Worthing Council said: “The Environment Agency will release a small quantity of green dye at the southern end of Brooklands Lake that will make its way into the sea. We, and they, are reassuring members of the public not to be alarmed if they notice the sea to appear a green colour.

“The dye may travel up to one kilometre either side of Brooklands Lake but is non-toxic and expected to have dissolved by mid-afternoon.”

Every day from May to September the Environment Agency forecast the pollution risk and warn when water quality is likely to be reduced in both Lancing and Worthing bathing waters.

The public can then make timely and informed decisions on whether to swim or not, according to the council.

Teville Stream and Brooklands Lake are not connected to Souther Water.

A Southern Water spokesman said: “Our East Worthing treatment works, which is just north of Brooklands, is not linked to the lake.

“We are working with the Environment Agency, Adur and Worthing Council and Lancing Parish Council to continue to deliver high-quality bathing water locally and the dye tests are the latest phase in these ongoing efforts.”

For more details on the scheme, visit www.adur-worthing.gov.uk and search short-term pollution