2023 Bathing Water Profile for Seaton Carew North
-
Seaton Carew is a small resort on Tees Bay to the south of Hartlepool. Seaton Carew North is the northern end of an extensive sandy beach fronting the town.
-
Hartlepool
-
Hartlepool
-
Bathing water quality may sometimes be affected by discharges from storm outfalls into streams and along the shore. Improvement works were carried out at Mainsforth Terrace outfall in 2012 and between 2017-2019 to refurbish pumps and screens. There was also a major site refurbishment at the Headworks before the 2016 bathing water season to replace aged components. These schemes have increased operational efficiency at the works and reduced emergency discharges. Other overflows discharge to the Stell but have done so for 20 years during which bathing water quality has improved.
-
Sewage from Seaton Carew and Hartlepool was discharged to sea via a number of short sea outfalls until 1993. A long sea outfall was constructed then and these flows were diverted 4km offshore to improve and protect bathing water quality at the Seaton Carew beaches. In 2000, a treatment works was built at Seaton Carew and the sewage flowing to the long sea outfall has since received full treatment and disinfection using ultraviolet light. In 2007, the discharge from Billingham Sewage Treatment Works was diverted from its previous location to this long outfall to ensure that it had no adverse effect on the ecologically important area at Seal Sands. The location of the outfall and the level of treatment mean that this discharge has no perceptible impact on bathing water quality.
-
For the four year (2019-2022) assessment period where data is available, seaweed (macroalgae) was assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable for 1% of visits, with 59% of visits noting the presence of seaweed (macroalgae). Environment Agency research suggests this bathing water does not have a history of large amounts of seaweed (macro algae).
-
Modern sewerage systems have two separate systems, one takes foul sewage to sewage treatment, the other takes rainwater runoff through surface water drains to rivers, lakes and the sea. Misconnections occur when waste water pipes are plumbed into surface water drains instead of the foul water sewerage system. This can give rise to pollution when the waste water is discharged directly to the environment through the surface water drain. For example, a washing machine or toilet may be incorrectly plumbed so that it discharges to the surface drain rather than the foul sewage drain.
-
For the four year (2019-2022) assessment period where data is available, phytoplankton (microscopic algae) was not noted at this site. Environment Agency research suggests this bathing water does not have a history of phytoplankton blooms. The risks to human health from contact, ingestion or inhalation with marine algae that currently occur in UK coastal waters are considered to be low. However, some individuals may be more sensitive and display some reactions. A common marine algae found in UK coastal waters is Phaeocystis, which is often mistaken for sewage as it forms foam and a brown scum, but it is non-toxic.
-
This bathing water is subject to short term pollution procedures. The Environment Agency makes a daily pollution risk forecast at this site based on the effects of rain and wind on bathing water quality. These factors affect the levels of bacteria that get washed into the sea from livestock, sewage and urban drainage via rivers and streams and how they disperse. When these factors combine to make short term pollution likely we issue a pollution risk warning on this website and the beach manager will display a sign advising against bathing at the bathing water. After a short term pollution event, levels of bacteria typically return to normal after a day or so but it’s possible to have several warning days in a row. Details of the work to reduce the sources of bacteria at this bathing water are detailed in this profile. In 2022 11 pollution risk warnings were issued for this bathing water. All bathing waters have the potential to be affected by a pollution incident and if this occurs a pollution risk warning will be issued with associated advice against bathing on this website.
-
2023 Bathing Water Profile for Seaton Carew North
-
2023-09-30
-
2023-05-01
-
The Stell crosses the bathing water. There are a number of consented discharges to this watercourse which may impair water quality during and immediately after heavy rain.
-
Environment Agency samplers make observations of litter present on the beach at every visit, this includes assessments of sewage debris, litter and tar. At Seaton Carew North for the four year (2019-2022) assessment period where data is available, sewage debris was not noted at this site. Litter was not assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable, but was observed as being present on 24% of visits. Tarry residue was not noted at this site.
-
The beach is close to the mouth of the River Tees, which has a catchment of approximately 2000 square kilometres. It rises in Pennine moorland, draining a largely agricultural catchment before reaching the sea via an urban/industrial estuary. Within this, smaller streams drain an area of approximately 18 square kilometres, mainly the southern half of Hartlepool and reach the sea close to this designated beach and are probably more relevant.
-
Seaton Carew North
-
Seaton Carew North
-
Sampling point at Seaton Carew North
-
452601
-
54.66466849885708
-
-1.186040311789457
-
530257
-
Sampling point at Seaton Carew North
-
-
-
p152 dT23 h59 m59 s
-
2023 05 01 t00:00:00
-
2023-05-01T00:00:00
-
-
2023 09 30 t23:59:59
-
2023-09-30T23:59:59
-
-
-
2023 06000:1
-
Seaweed (macroalgae) and phytoplankton (microscopic algae) are a natural part of the marine and freshwater environment. Below we note whether these have been recorded in quantities sufficient to be a nuisance.
-
The majority of sewers in England are “combined sewers” and carry both sewage and surface water from roofs and drains. A storm overflow operates during heavy rainfall when the sewerage system becomes overwhelmed by the amount of surface water. The overflow prevents sewage from backing up pipes and flooding properties and gardens. An emergency overflow will only operate infrequently, for example due to pump failure or blockage in the sewerage system.
-
Heavy 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.
-
It is the Environment Agency role to drive improvement of water quality at bathing waters that are at risk of failing higher standards. It is natural for water to run off the land to the sea. Water quality at a bathing water is dependent upon the type and area of land (the catchment) draining to the water and the activities undertaken in that catchment.
-
Discharges from sewage treatment works have improved substantially in England since the 1980s.
-
