2024 Bathing Water Profile for Tynemouth Cullercoats
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Cullercoats Bay Beach is a gently sloping resort beach enclosed by piers at each end making a very sheltered bay.
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North Tyneside District
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Tyne & Wear
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This bathing water has, in recent years, shown reduced quality in the latter half of the bathing water season. Between 2016 and 2018, this was more significant. In 2017, a joint investigation between the Environment Agency, North Tyneside Council and Northumbrian Water into the potential sources was launched. The Environment Agency has carried out DNA analysis on the water samples to help identify different sources of pollution. This analysis shows that sewage is the major contributor to the reduced water quality found in the bathing water. The Environment Agency has carried out a desktop hydrogeological investigation to help us understand the source and pathway of the bacteria. The geology found at Cullercoats is unique to the area. There is an outcrop of Magnesium Limestone and Sandstone. There is a major fault that is located along the southern boundary of the limestone which may indicate that the water in the limestone flows eastwards. Samples taken from ponding water on the beach, one sample on the north side of the beach and another from the south side caves, both show elevated levels of bacteria. Further investigations are being carried out to confirm whether the ponding is caused by groundwater, thus becoming a pathway for bacteria. The investigations have identified and allowed proactive measures to be taken on a number of third party sites and the Northumbrian Water network that will help protect against potential future problems which could have a detrimental effect on the local environment. Together, we have already ruled out a number of potential factors and the Environment Agency continues to take investigative samples through the bathing water season to monitor changes in quality and assess the impact of interventions.
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There is a combined sewer overflow located to the north of the bathing water's northern pier. This outfall typically only discharges surface water, primarily from Marden Quarry, but very occasionally discharges storm overflow. The overflow is designed such that it will not operate unless the rainfall is greater than a 1 in 5 year storm return period. This bathing water is included in the Surfers Against Sewage “Safer Seas Service”. This service can alert you to Combined Storm Sewer Overflow discharges via a phone App and in addition, it includes the Environment Agency Pollution Risk Forecast warnings where they are available. Further details of the service can be found at - http://www.sas.org.uk/safer-seas-service/
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Crude sewage discharges in the Cullercoats area were connected to the Tyneside interceptor sewer in the early 1980's via pumping stations at Browns Point and North Point. The combined sewer overflows associated with these pumping station were reengineered in the early 1990s to discharge only with a storm intensity of 1 in 5 year return period. This scheme was designed to improve water quality. Due to concerns about the sewage network performance the water company secured funding to investigate their network. The outcome of this investigation was reported in 2012 and indicated that the local sewerage system was performing as designed and was not the cause of the intermittent high bacterial counts found at the bathing water. In December 2022 a new drainage pipe was installed to take contaminated groundwater from a disused culvert into the sewer network. Investigative monitoring will continue to asses the impact of the intervention.
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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 12% of visits, with 84% 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. Investigations by Northumbrian Water are ongoing to identify and repair misconnections which may be impacting the bathing water quality. 80 highways gullies and over 100 properties have been checked, and 10 misconnected pipes have been repaired.
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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, tide and seasonality 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 34 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 Tynemouth Cullercoats
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2024-09-30
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2024-05-01
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Historically, a very small culverted watercourse entered the bay down the cliff face next to Newcastle University's Dove Marine Laboratory. This was, on occasions, found to contain elevated bacterial counts. The local authority and water company worked to resolve this in 2012 and this stream no longer flows down the cliff face.
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There are no known sewage treatment works outfalls impacting or directly discharging into the bathing water.
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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 Tynemouth Cullercoats for the four year (2020-2023) 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 72% of visits. Tarry residue was not noted at this site.
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The natural drainage (hydrological) catchment surrounding the bathing water is approximately 0.3 square kilometres, all of which is urban.
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Tynemouth Cullercoats
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Tynemouth Cullercoats
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Sampling point at Tynemouth Cullercoats
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436465
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55.03478000872418
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-1.431022555333661
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571287
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Sampling point at Tynemouth Cullercoats
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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 04900:1
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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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