2024 Bathing Water Profile for Marske Sands
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Marske Sands is a gently-sloping sandy beach fronting the town from which it takes its name. The designated bathing water is 800 metres long.
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Redcar and Cleveland
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Redcar & Cleveland
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There are a number of combined sewer overflows (CSO) close to this bathing water. These were the subject of an improvement scheme in 2004 designed to minimise their impact on bathing waters. Significant impacts will now occur only after unusually heavy rainfall.
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In the early 1990s, an interceptor sewer was built to take sewage from Marske and the surrounding area to a new long sea outfall at Marske. In 2000, new sewage treatment works were built at Bran Sands, Seaton Carew and Marske. As well as conventional treatment, all these discharges are disinfected using ultraviolet light. The location of the outfalls and the level of treatment mean that these discharges now have no perceptible impact on bathing water quality.
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For the four year (2020-2023) assessment period where data is available, seaweed (macroalgae) was assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable for 3% of visits, with 60% 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).
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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.
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For the four year (2020-2023) assessment period where data is available, phytoplankton (microscopic algae) was not assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable, but was observed as being present on 2% of visits. 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.
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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 sunlight 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 2023 5 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.
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2024 Bathing Water Profile for Marske Sands
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2024-09-30
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2024-05-01
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A small watercourse, the Long Beck, enters the sea at the north-western end of the beach. It carries the discharge form a number of consented CSOs which can temporarily impair bathing water quality after heavy rainfall.
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Environment Agency samplers make observations of litter present on the beach at every visit, this includes assessments of sewage debris, litter and tar. At Marske Sands for the four year (2020-2023) assessment period where data is available, sewage debris was not noted at this site. Litter was assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable for 2% of visits, with 30% of visits noting the presence of litter. Tarry residue was not noted at this site.
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A small watercourse, the Long Beck, enters the sea at the north-western end of the beach. It carries the discharge from a number of consented combined storm overflows (CSOs) which can temporarily impair bathing water quality after heavy rainfall.
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Marske Sands
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Marske Sands
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Sampling point at Marske Sands
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463600
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54.59999555445701
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-1.0170751447538
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523200
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Sampling point at Marske Sands
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p152 dT23 h59 m59 s
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2024 05 01 t00:00:00
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2024-05-01T00:00:00
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2024 09 30 t23:59:59
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2024-09-30T23:59:59
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2024 06650:1
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Discharges from sewage treatment works have improved substantially in England since the 1980s.
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