![\"Traeth](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/0_AFRDPR181125CemaesBeach.jpg\")
Traeth Mawr beach in Cemaes, Anglesey(Image: Gordon Hatton\/Wiki)<\/p>\nRatings for all the region’s beaches have been publishedTraeth Mawr beach in Cemaes, Anglesey(Image: Gordon Hatton\/Wiki)<\/p>\n
Beaches in Anglesey and Denbighshire have been rated amongst the country\u2019s worst for bathing quality. Cemaes Bay and Rhyl Central were among only five designated bathing waters in Wales to be considered only \u201csufficient\u201d by water quality regulators.<\/p>\n
Bathing water ratings for 112 beaches, lakes and rivers in Wales have just been released by Natural Resources Wales (NRW). Of these, 78 were classified as \u201cexcellent\u201d \u2013 up three since 2024. A further 26 sites achieved \u201cgood\u2019 status. Ratings for all North Wales waters can be found below<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Across the country, only one Welsh beach was rated \u201cpoor\u201d. This was Watch House Bay, a 100-metre beach in an urbanised area south of Barry in the Vale of Glamorgan. Rhyl\u2019s Marine Lake was also considered only \u201csufficient\u201d, down on its 2024 rating.<\/p>\n Traeth Fawr beach<\/strong> at Cemaes Bay has now been marked only \u201csufficient\u201d for three successive years, having previously been rated \u201cgood\u201d and \u201cexcellent\u201d. Afon Wygyr discharges onto the beach, which lies in a catchment is dominated by agriculture.<\/p>\n Livestock are considered the \u201cmain bacterial loads\u201d at Traeth Fawr and, in recent years, the river and its tributaries have been fenced off to prevent faecal contamination. More fencing was completed in 2025 on Afon Meddanen.<\/p>\n Beach water sampling undertaken this year found no animal faeces or sewage debris. However trace amounts of litter were seen on 30%-40% of occasions. It\u2019s thought elevated bacterial levels may be coming from highway drains at times of high rainfall.<\/p>\n NRW\u2019s investigators said: \u201cHeavy rain falling on pavements and roads often flows into surface water drains or highway drains, ending up in local rivers and, ultimately, the sea. The quality of bathing water may be adversely affected as a result of such events.\u201d Join the North Wales Live Whatsapp community now<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n In 2024, Rhyl Central beach<\/strong> was rated \u201cpoor\u201d and this year\u2019s upgrading is in line with the improving trend seen across Wales this summer \u2013 water sampling is undertaken between May 15 and September 30.<\/p>\n Now considered \u201csatisfactory\u201d, it means seafront signs advising against bathing can now be taken down. However the rating means there is still room for improvement.<\/p>\n The beach suffers for being near the Afon Clwyd estuary, which leads to \u201cincreased bacteria loading\u201d from farming<\/a>, sewage and urban run-off after heavy rainfall. Usually, pollution risks subside after one to three days after a downpour.<\/p>\n For two years, the beach area has been disrupted by the \u00a369m Central Rhyl coastal defence scheme. In August, the revamped Rhyl Central promenade was reopened after being widened and raised, and this was followed by the unveiling of the resdesigned Drift Park play area in early autumn.<\/p>\n During visits to the beach, NRW officers didn\u2019t find any oil or sewage debris. However trace amounts of animal faeces were detected on a few occasions. Litter was worse: small amounts were found on more than 50% of visits.<\/p>\n NRW said: \u201cAt Rhyl there were a total of 31 warnings of a pollution risk forecast during the 2024 bathing water season, with four samples being taken on a day that coincided with these warnings. These warnings were issued because of the effects of heavy rain on the water quality.\u201d Worst date for bacteria loads was August 6.<\/p>\n In contrast, bathing quality Rhyl\u2019s Marine Lake<\/strong> has gone the other way, dropping from \u201cgood\u201d in 2024 to \u201csufficient\u201d this year. In terms of visible pollution, it was similar to Rhyl Central, with litter the main issue \u2013 it was seen on more than 50% of visits. In 2025, bacterial levels were down on the previous year.<\/p>\n Marine Lake has no treated sewage outfalls, neither is it fed by streams or rivers. But it does have combined sewers that carry both sewage and surface water from roofs and drains \u2013 and an overflow back to the Clwyd estuary. The lake is topped up occasionally at high tide via a sluice located within the Clwyd estuary.<\/p>\n This year, a surface water drain near the lake\u2019s car park was targeted for sampling to see if this is affecting the lake\u2019s water quality. NRW said: \u201cAdvice has been given to Denbighshire<\/a> County Council regarding procedures for topping up the lake during times of known pollution within the Clwyd estuary.\u201d<\/p>\n Mary Lewis, NRW\u2019s head of natural resource management, said climate change was making it more challenging to maintain high bathing water standards. Wet weather<\/a> can significantly impact water quality and this was seen in September, when rainfall was 170% of average levels.<\/p>\n She added: \u201cAs Wales\u2019 environmental regulator, we are working hard to reduce pollution at its source, enforce against those who harm our waters and collaborate with partners on solutions. We continue to drive action and investment from all sectors to secure sustained, long-term improvements for nature and people, and the future of Welsh waters.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Warm](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/0_WEATHER-Heatwave-2022-Soaring-temperatures-into-the-mid-30s-across-most-of-the-UK-with-a-new-rec.j.jpeg\")
Warm weather brings the crowds to Rhyl beach(Image: Ian Cooper\/North Wales Live)<\/p>\n![\"Swimming](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/0_Marine-Lake-Rhyl.jpg\")
Swimming is banned at Rhyl’s Marine Lake but canoeing, kayaking and sailing is allowed with permits(Image: Ian Cooper\/North Wales Live)<\/p>\n