An Angus environmental group has expressed concerns about “untreated sewage” making its way into the water at Monifieth beach.
The latest SEPA report has branded the bathing water quality at Monifieth as “poor”.
Alex Graham, chairman of Monifieth Eco Force, explained that the beach’s location as well as an unidentified source of the reported sewage, were likely to have contributed to the bad rating.
He said: “We have had better ratings before, but occasionally we get a poor one.
“The explanation that we’ve been given is that it’s because of where the beach is located – the currents flow downstream from the river, then the tide comes in from the sea.
“Because we are the bay at the estuary, every so often waste matter goes out to sea and then gets washed in.
“We work so hard to keep the area tidy – every month we have about 20 people going out to do a beach clean and we encourage dog walkers to pick up their waste.
“That’s why the rating is so frustrating. We can’t act against the force of nature.
“Somewhere either upstream or downstream from us, there is sewage coming in untreated but no one is owning up to being responsible.
“More should be done to establish the source.”
A SEPA spokesman said that the agency has not received any reports of raw sewage at Monifieth, but advised anyone with concerns to get in touch with the organisation.
Angus Council explained that the area is particularly vulnerable to pollution after heavy rain.
Elsewhere, the beaches at Carnoustie, Lunan Bay and Montrose have been given a “good” water quality score.
A spokesman for the local authority said: “We’re pleased that bathing waters at Arbroath (West Links), Carnoustie, Lunan Bay and Montrose have been rated as good, but it is disappointing that Monifieth is one of 17 bathing waters classified as poor by the new SEPA system.
“Monifieth’s coastline can be vulnerable to pollutants following periods of heavy rains where water washes from inland into local water courses and to the shore.
“We will continue to work with SEPA and Scottish Water to try to identify the issues that have contributed to this rating and are confident that Monifieth will regain the ‘good’ water quality classification it was previously awarded.”
Anyone with concerns about untreated sewage or other pollutants can call SEPA’s pollution helpline on 0800807060.
