2024 Bathing Water Profile for Haverigg
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Haverigg is a gently sloping gravel and sandy beach for which levels out to flat sand. At low tide the water retreats a long way from the beach exposing sands of the Duddon estuary. There is a channel wall to the east of the bathing water which guides the Haverigg Pool, a local stream, out to sea.
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Copeland District
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Cumbria
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In 1999 the Environment Agency carried out a study of the Duddon Estuary to assess the key sources of pollution into the estuary that could impact bathing water quality. This led to improvements at a number of locations in the estuary. The Environment Agency assessed the Duddon Estuary again in 2006 for the ‘Improving Coastal and Recreational Waters for All’ project, aimed to tackle diffuse pollution from agriculture. The project focussed on the Haverigg bathing water and actions taken as a result will have helped improve bathing water quality at Haverigg. In 2007 United Utilities, with the Environment Agency's 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 Haverigg. In 2008 the Environment Agency carried out a detailed study to investigate sources of pollution that could impact bathing water quality. The study found an increase in run off during and after heavy rainfall events which can cause a decline in bathing water quality. The Environment Agency is undertaking a number of actions as a result of this study. The Environment Agency uses a DNA identification technique that helps to show whether sources of pollution are human or animal. This method was used at Haverigg during 2010 and has provided information on appropriate future actions. It showed the impact agricultural run off can have on the bathing water quality at Haverigg. In 2011 the Environment Agency surveyed the catchment around Haverigg to identify sources of contamination. Where significant issues were found these have been investigated and improvements made where needed.
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The storm tank overflow from Millom Sewage Treatment Works and the storm overflow from King Street Pumping Station were upgraded by United Utilities in 2013 to protect bathing water quality. 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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A number of improvements have been made to United Utilities’ outfalls to improve bathing water quality. To the north of Haverigg improvements have been made by United Utilities to Millom Sewage Treatment Works in 1996 with further improvements in 2003 to ensure the discharge was treated and disinfected. To the east of Haverigg across the Duddon Estuary the disinfection treatment at Askam Sewage Treatment Works was upgraded by United Utilities in 2003. Improvements were also made to the treatment of storm flows at the sewage treatment works and upstream within the sewer network. These improvements will have helped improve bathing water quality. Soutergate Sewage Treatment Works was upgraded in 2003 to ensure the outputs are 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 the sewage treatment and to improve treatment of storm flows. 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. Haverigg Pumping Station and the outfall from Willowside storm overflow in Haverigg have been upgraded to protect 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 not assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable, but was observed as being present on 27% of visits. 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. A suspected misconnection from an industrial estate in Haverigg was investigated by United Utilities in 2015 and no impact on bathing water quality found.
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For the four year (2020-2023) assessment period where data is available, phytoplankton (microscopic algae) was not noted at this site. 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 31 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 Haverigg
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2024-09-30
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2024-05-01
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A step change improvement in water quality has been identified from 1st May 2015 at Haverigg due to improvements made to United Utilities assets in 2014 and 2015. Bathing water quality monitoring samples collected prior to this date shall not be used for classification.
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The River Duddon splits into a several channels within the Duddon Estuary. The paths of these channels will alter as a result of strong tides and storms shifting the location of sand banks in the estuary. The River Duddon can have an impact on Haverigg bathing water quality depending on tides and currents in the estuary. Stoup Dub Cut, a small local stream, flows to sea across the western end of the bathing water. Past investigations of the stream have shown good water quality. Haverigg Pool, which flows to sea behind the channel wall at the eastern end of the bathing water, can cause a decline in bathing water quality during and after periods of heavy rainfall. Haverigg Pool receives run-off from large agricultural areas as well as flowing through the town of Haverigg.
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The discharge from Millom Sewage Treatment Works, located to the north of Haverigg bathing water, receives full treatment and disinfection.
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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 Haverigg 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 45% of visits. Tarry residue was not noted at this site.
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The Duddon catchment is largely agricultural with significant 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 Haverigg. 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. Catchment Sensitive Farming, an advice-led project, delivering targeted advice to reduce water pollution is underway within the River Duddon catchment. It enables farmers and land managers to take action to reduce the impact from farms on water quality.
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Due to the rural nature of the Duddon catchment there are a number of privately owned properties not connected to the mains sewerage system. During 2011 a first time sewerage scheme was completed by United Utilities in the village of Silecroft providing a foul sewerage network for the properties. This has improved the quality of the Silecroft Beck and will have helped improve bathing water quality at Haverigg.
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The beach is located on the north shore of the Duddon estuary in South West Cumbria. The land in the catchment is mainly used for agriculture with numerous livestock farms. Surface water near the bathing water drains into streams which flow onto the beach.
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Haverigg
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Haverigg
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Sampling point at Haverigg
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316000
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54.18907071697454
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-3.288806054188797
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477800
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Sampling point at Haverigg
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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 44800:1
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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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