Worthing swimmers to take hands-on role in coastal water testing thanks to new citizen science facility
A new community-focused water testing facility is set to open at a leisure centre in Worthing.
It is hoped the new facility, at Splashpoint Leisure Centre, will strengthen local monitoring of seawater quality along the town’s coastline this summer.
The Worthing Borough Council initiative, developed in partnership with Southern Water and South Downs Leisure, will enable local swimming groups to take part in ‘citizen science’ by testing water at Worthing’s three designated bathing sites.
A council announcement on Facebook read: “A new water testing facility is coming to Splashpoint Leisure Centre this summer – helping our community play a hands-on role in monitoring local seawater quality.
“Working in partnership with Southern Water and South Downs Leisure, the citizen science facility will support swimming groups across our coastline in testing water at Worthing’s three designated bathing sites.
“This builds on the fantastic work already being done by members of Muscle Beach Swimming Club, who have been collecting samples at Worthing Beach House, opposite the leisure centre.”
Until now, samples have been analysed at King Alfred Leisure Centre in Hove.
“But soon this process will take place right here in Worthing, thanks to the new testing equipment funded by Southern Water,” the local authority added.
"Swimming groups from across Worthing and Goring will be involved in learning how the equipment works to help monitor different sections of our coastline.
“This initiative complements ongoing monitoring by the Environment Agency and will help build a clearer picture of water quality along our seafront.”
Keeping our coastal waters clean is a ‘collective effort’, the council said, adding that citizen science has a ‘vital role to play’ in ‘identifying and tackling the different sources of pollution’.
Updates will be posted on the council’s social media pages, as the new facility progresses.