Digital displays enabling visitors to obtain details about seawater cleanliness have been placed at swimming locations along the coast.
Worthing Borough Council has collaborated with the Environment Agency and Hello Lamp Post, a community participation tool employing artificial intelligence to interact with and gather input from local people.
Fresh signage has been erected along the seafront at Goring Beach, Worthing Beach and the area near Worthing Beach House.
The water quality at Worthing Beach House, close to Beach House Grounds, carries a poor classification, which represents the lowest tier on the classification system.
Both Goring Beach and the location by Heene Road achieved improvements to good status from sufficient in the most recent ratings published by the Environment Agency last November.
The signs have been positioned to inform the public about seawater contamination and respond to enquiries.
Visitors can photograph the QR code on these new displays or send a text message to pose queries, view current information such as the origins of pollution affecting the bathing water and contribute their own immediate observations.
The system is presently operational at only a limited selection of coastal swimming spots throughout the nation and has been brought to Worthing as part of a joint initiative involving multiple organisations to enhance public access to information regarding the towns coastal bathing water locations.
The Environment Agency nominated Worthing for this platform, having worked closely alongside council officers and Southern Water to address pollution sources affecting the areas designated bathing waters.
Worthing Borough Council noted that efforts continue to pinpoint and resolve the various sources of contamination.
The council added that this fresh collaboration is concentrating on giving residents and holidaymakers additional support and information to help them stay aware of current water quality conditions.
Councillor Vicki Wells, Worthing cabinet member for environmental services, stated that the coastline represents a significant resource for both residents and wildlife. She explained that it is essential people feel well-informed and assured that measures and progress are underway, while also contributing by reporting what they witness.
She noted that by launching Hello Lamp Post in conjunction with the Environment Agency and Southern Water, the council is expanding efforts to provide residents and visitors with straightforward on-location opportunities to report real-time observations.
She added that this scheme backs the existing monitoring activities and introduces a valuable new dimension of public involvement that assists people in gaining a better understanding of local beaches whilst supporting broader initiatives to enhance coastal water standards.
Cat Fuller, area director for Solent and South Downs at the Environment Agency, expressed that the organisation is pleased this significant citizen science technology is being introduced to the Worthing area.
She explained it will deliver crucial data regarding the water quality of these bathing waters while simultaneously gathering important community science observations as they occur.
The interactive service is provided at no cost and is now accessible at Goring Beach, Worthing Beach and near Worthing Beach House. Its implementation in Worthing has been financed by the Environment Agency as part of its commitment to fostering citizen science.