2013 Bathing Water Profile for Askam-in-Furness
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Askam bathing water is an extremely flat beach, with shingle and sandy areas, accessed by steps from the top of a small cliff. There is a small area of salt marsh behind the beach. At high tide, a small stretch of mostly shingle beach is visible. A larger expanse of sand, stretching into the Duddon estuary, is exposed at low tide.
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Cumbria
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In 1999, the Environment Agency carried out a study of the Duddon Estuary to assess discharges into the estuary that could impact on bathing water quality. This resulted in improvements at a number of locations in the estuary, which have improved bathing water quality. In 2006, the Duddon Estuary was assessed under the Improving Coastal and Recreational Waters for All project, which aimed to tackle diffuse pollution from agriculture. Although the project was focussed on the Haverigg bathing water, to the east of Askam-in-Furness across the estuary, actions taken on the Duddon Estuary have also improved bathing water quality at Askam. In 2007 United Utilities, with the Environment Agency support, completed a study of the Duddon Estuary. The study found that improvements to the storm tanks at Millom Sewage Treatment Works and the King Street Pumping Station, both operated by United Utilities, were needed to improve bathing water quality. The study also showed that the River Duddon can influence bathing water quality at Askam. The Environment Agency recently introduced a DNA identification technique that helps to show whether sources of pollution are human or animal. In 2008 and 2009 this method was used at the three bathing waters in the Duddon Estuary, including Askam. The results showed that agricultural run off has a significant impact on bathing water quality in the estuary. In 2011, the Environment Agency surveyed streams and rivers in this area to identify sources of contamination. The Environment Agency will be following up the findings to improve bathing water quality. Between January and March 2012 the Environment Agency also surveyed surface water drains in this area to identify any sources of contamination. The Environment Agency are working with United Utilities, the local authority and householders to resolve any issues.
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There are a number of improvements planned to emergency and storm overflows that will improve bathing water quality. These include improvements to the storm overflow from Millom Sewage Treatment Works and the King Street Pumping Station by 2013. There are two surface water outfalls located just to the north of Askam village designed to release clean surface water.
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A number of improvements have been made to outfalls to improve bathing water quality. Directly to the north of the bathing water the disinfection treatment at Askam Sewage Treatment Works was upgraded by United Utilities in 2003. Improvements were also made to the storm flow treatment at the sewage treatment works and upstream within the sewer network. These improvements will have helped improve bathing water quality. To the east of Askam improvements have been made by United Utilities to Millom Sewage Treatment Works in 1996 with further improvements in 2003 to ensure the discharge is treated and disinfected. Further north of Askam, Soutergate Sewage Treatment Works was upgraded by United Utilities in 2003 to ensure the discharge is treated and disinfected, as well as improving the treatment of storm flows. Four sewage discharges at Kirkby were transferred to Soutergate Sewage Treatment Works in 2003 to improve bathing water quality. Two discharges in the Broughton area (Broughton-in-Furness Sewage Treatment Works and Skellow Crag Sewage Treatment Works) were upgraded to improve sewage treatment and to improve treatment of storm flows, with a further discharge at Foxfield transferred to Broughton-in-Furness Sewage Treatment Works in 2003. Upgrades to the sewer network in Broughton were also made to protect bathing water quality. Storage for sewage flows was provided at Willowside storm overflow at Haverigg in 2000 to protect bathing water quality.
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This bathing water does not have a history of large amounts of seaweed (macroalgae).
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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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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.
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2013 Bathing Water Profile for Askam-in-Furness
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There are two small streams that flow across the beach at Askam. There are no known impacts from these streams on bathing water quality. In the Duddon Estuary itself there are other streams and rivers, which during and after heavy rainfall can impact on bathing water quality at Askam.
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The area surrounding the Duddon Estuary is largely agricultural with significant areas of land occupied by livestock. During and after periods of heavy rainfall run off from agricultural areas will be greatly increased, which could impact on bathing water quality at Askam. Through the England Catchment Sensitive Farming Delivery Initiative, a partnership between Natural England and the Environment Agency, a programme of work is being undertaken in the Duddon Estuary catchment focussing on reducing the impact on water quality from agriculture. The Duddon Estuary also contains large areas of salt marsh which are grazed by livestock. Under heavy rainfall conditions, or high tides, run off from these areas could impact bathing water quality. The Environment Agency has carried out and is continuing investigations on the impact of salt marsh grazing in the area.
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The bathing water is located on the east side of the Duddon estuary in South West Cumbria. The land in the catchment is mainly used for agriculture with numerous livestock farms. Askam-in-Furness village, which is on the Cumbrian Coastal Walk, lies to the south of the bathing water.
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Askam in Furness
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Askam in Furness
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Sampling point at Askam in Furness
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320900
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54.193444698444345
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-3.21383850975092
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478200
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Sampling point at Askam in Furness
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2013:1
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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 and Wales 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 and Natural Resources Wales role to drive improvement of water quality at bathing waters that are at risk of failing European 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 and Wales since the 1980s.
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