05-07-2025
New digital chat tool to improve Bournemouth beach water quality
A new digital chat tool is set to boost community engagement on Bournemouth's bathing water quality.
Litter Free Dorset, in its latest campaign, is encouraging beachgoers to delve into water quality issues, find new resources, share their concerns and ask questions.
The group wants people to join the conversation by completing an online survey or interacting with the new digital engagement platform powered by Hello Lamp Post.
The chat function uses a knowledge bank filled with information from Litter Free Dorset, supplemented by an AI digital assistant, to guide users through a live conversation about water quality and the work of organisations such as BCP Council, the Environment Agency and Wessex Water.
The survey and digital chat tool, accessible online and via QR code, have been launched in conjunction with Wessex Water's efforts to monitor seawater quality in near real-time.
Wessex Water has deployed advanced seawater quality monitoring buoys at Bournemouth and Boscombe beaches.
These buoys collect data capable of indicating bacteria levels in the water using AI technology, which can then be shared with partners and the public.
Ruth Barden, director of environmental solutions at Wessex Water, said: "While Bournemouth's beautiful coastal bathing sites are all rated excellent by the Environment Agency, we know that numerous factors can have an impact on water quality —from wildlife to high rainfall.
"It's exciting to be able to use our recently deployed water quality buoys to help train the AI platform and provide real-time information."
With this campaign, Litter Free Dorset aims to raise awareness about water quality issues, promote a variety of water quality resources, and help the public feel better informed about Bournemouth's bathing water quality.
Emma Teasdale, Litter Free Dorset coordinator, said: "It is important that beachgoers are able to access water quality information about their local beach, and this engagement project will help us to identify what information people want and what they already know about the factors that can impact water quality."
Litter Free Dorset will be present at Bournemouth Pier on Saturday, July 5, during the Pier-to-Pier Swim event to talk to people about water quality.
