2024 Bathing Water Profile for Allonby
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Allonby is a large sandy beach rising to a shingle slope. There is a flat grassy area behind the beach which joins the village of Allonby.
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Allerdale
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Cumbria
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The Environment Agency uses a DNA identification technique that helps to show whether sources of pollution are human or animal. In 2009 this method was used at Allonby bathing water. This has highlighted the impact from agriculture, as well as the presence of dogs and birds on the beach, on the bathing water quality and is enabling us to target actions. In 2009 and 2010 the Environment Agency undertook investigations into caravan parks and campsites located in the catchment to identify any sewage treatment systems that were not working properly. This has resulted in a new system providing improved sewage treatment and disinfection at a caravan park south of the bathing water. There is further on-going work in the catchment to address other sites and the Environment Agency is working with site owners to ensure that any improvements are completed as soon as possible. In 2011 the Environment Agency surveyed the catchment around Allonby to identify sources of contamination. Where significant issues were found these have been investigated and improvements made where needed. In 2012 United Utilities, with the Environment Agency's support, developed a detailed model of the Solway Estuary and the north Cumbrian coast to assess which inputs can impact bathing water quality. The River Ellen and Allonby Sewage Treatment Works were identified as the main impacts on bathing water quality.
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There is a disused storm overflow from The Square in the village of Allonby. This discharge was abandoned in 1995 by United Utilities. There is also a disused outfall storm overflow to the north of the Allonby bathing water; this discharge was abandoned in 1992 by United Utilities. The storm overflow from Maryport Pumping Station is located ten kilometres to the south of Allonby bathing water. An improvement scheme for Maryport Pumping Station designed to protect bathing water quality was completed in March 2012. The storm overflow from Allonby Sewage Treatment Works discharges to Allonby Bay at the same location as the treated discharge from the sewage treatment works. The storm overflow from Allonby Sewage Treatment Works was improved in March 2016. Additional treatment units were built to increase the capacity of the plant. Protecting bathing water quality by reducing the number of storm discharges. Under the programme of work for United Utilities (from 2015 to 2020) storm overflows close to bathing waters have had equipment installed to monitor spills to the environment. This will help to identify where bathing water improvements may be needed in the future. 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/ and via United Utilities website at http://www.unitedutilities.com/Bathing-Waters-Map.aspx.
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Sea Change, a £500 million coastal clean-up project, was launched in 1994 by the Environment Agency in conjunction with United Utilities. It’s aim was to improve the bathing water quality in the North West. Through this a £30 million scheme to improve the sewerage system in the Maryport area was established. The scheme eliminated a large crude discharge at Maryport by passing flows south to Workington and constructed a new outfall at Maryport for storm flows, as well as building a new sewage treatment works at Allonby. The scheme also removed eight storm overflows as part of the overall Maryport sewerage scheme. Allerby, Edderside and Crosscanonby Sewage Treatment Works which discharge to Allonby Bay were upgraded in 2005 by United Utilities to improve river water quality. The upgrades will have improved bathing water quality.
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To help improve bathing water quality we are working alongside Local Authorities through a LOVEmyBEACH campaign. Further information can be found at http://lovemybeach.org/
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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 1% of visits, with 54% of visits noting the presence of seaweed (macroalgae). 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. In 2015 United Utilities investigated, and where issues found taken action to resolve, a misconnection close to Allonby bathing water under their improvement programme.
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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 3% of visits. Phytoplankton (microscopic algae) naturally increase in number at certain times of the year. This process is known as a phytoplankton bloom. 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, wind 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 18 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 Allonby
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2024-09-30
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2024-05-01
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The River Ellen which flows into the Allonby Bay to the south of the Allonby bathing waters, as well as the Allonby Beck to the north of the bathing water, can be a source of reduced water quality after heavy rainfall. Streams and rivers are typically affected by farming activities within the catchment. During and after periods of heavy rainfall, run off from agricultural areas will be greatly increased and will, at times, be a source of poorer water quality than usual after heavy rainfall. There are also several smaller streams entering Allonby Bay which could impact bathing water quality.
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Allonby Sewage treatment Works discharges to Allonby Bay. The discharge from the sewage treatment works is treated to a high standard. United Utilities upgraded the sewage treatment works in 2003 to ensure the discharge receives disinfection to protect bathing water quality.
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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 Allonby 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 1% of visits, with 57% of visits noting the presence of litter. Tarry residue was not assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable, but was observed as being present on 1% of visits.
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The River Ellen catchment lying behind the Allonby bathing waters is agricultural with large areas of land used for livestock. During and following periods of heavy rainfall, run off from agricultural areas will be greatly increased which could impact bathing water quality at Allonby. Catchment Sensitive Farming, delivered by Natural England in partnership with the Environment Agency, delivers practical solutions and targeted support to enable farmers and land managers to take voluntary action to reduce diffuse water pollution from agriculture to protect water bodies and the environment. Actions include a programme of educational events for farmers, advice to farmers and land managers, farm visits, and surveys of the area to identify pollution risks. In 2013 funding was given for a 'Catchment Wise' project in the River Ellen catchment. The project was a partnership between the West Cumbria Rivers Trust, United Utilities and Natural England’s Catchment Sensitive Farming Project to tackle agricultural diffuse pollution in rivers and streams across the catchment. The project brought together farmers, landowners and local communities to protect water quality by considering grazing regimes, livestock housing, fencing, tree planting and advising on best practice to prevent pollution. One of the aims of the project was to improve bathing water quality in Allonby Bay.
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The Sellafield nuclear site is located on the West Cumbrian coast just north of the village of Seascale. The site which covers an area around four square kilometres is bordered on the western edge by the coastline. The Environment Agency permits waste disposal from the site, including discharges via a pipeline into the Irish Sea. The Environment Agency monitors seawater, sediment and seaweed at beaches in West Cumbria and publishes the results in an annual Radioactivity in Food and Environment Report (https://www.gov.uk/monitoring-radioactivity). The reduction in aerial and liquid discharges over the last three decades has been dramatic.
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There are a number of caravan parks and camp sites which are not on the main sewerage system and operate their own sewage treatment plants. Investigations in 2009 and 2010 identified those sites with inadequate sewage treatment systems, and several of these have been improved. The Environment Agency has worked with site owners to ensure that improvements to the remaining sites are carried out.
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The area immediately surrounding Allonby bathing water is Allonby village. The surrounding area is generally flat, rising to 50 metres above sea level, supporting mainly mixed livestock agriculture.
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Allonby
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Allonby
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Sampling point at Allonby
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307800
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54.76803473787631
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-3.434608476413831
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542400
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Sampling point at Allonby
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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 46100:1
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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's 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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