2024 Bathing Water Profile for Ainsdale
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The bathing water is a resort beach on the Sefton coastline in North West England. Ainsdale beach has a large expanse of sand throughout the tidal cycle and is very shallow in profile. Immediately behind the beach is a holiday park, boating lake and extensive sand dunes.
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Sefton
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Merseyside
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Since 1997 the Environment Agency has studied the Ribble Estuary to identify potential impacts on the bathing waters at the mouth of the estuary including Ainsdale. A computer model has been developed to predict the impact of water company investment schemes on water quality in the estuary. In 2009 and 2012 the Environment Agency used a DNA identification technique at Ainsdale that showed human and animal sources can impact bathing water quality. In 2011 the Environment Agency surveyed the catchment around Ainsdale to identify sources of contamination. Where significant issues were found we have investigated and required improvements where needed. In 2012 the Environment Agency surveyed a surface water catchment in this area to identify any sources of contamination. The Environment Agency worked with United Utilities, the local authority and householders to resolve any issues discovered during this survey. The Environment Agency contributed to a 4 year research project - Cloud 2 Coast - between 2011 and 2015 delivered by the Universities of Sheffield, Cardiff and Aberystwyth. The project developed river and coastal models of the Ribble catchment to understand the catchment sources which could impact bathing water quality. The project looked at options for managing these sources to improve bathing water quality.
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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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Whilst there are no water company assets discharging directly to the beach at Ainsdale there are a number located on the River Ribble and its estuary which can impact Ainsdale’s bathing water quality particularly after rainfall. The Environment Agency has worked closely with United Utilities since the early 1990s to improve the sewerage infrastructure in the Ribble catchment. Southport Sewage Treatment Works was upgraded by United Utilities in 1998 to take the flows from four storm overflows discharging to the sea and to provide improved storm sewage treatment. It was upgraded again in 1999 to provide disinfection and in 2001 to improve storm discharges. Further improvements in 2002 were made to the disinfection process and in 2008 to the storm sewage provisions to protect bathing water quality. Within the Ribble Estuary, the Hesketh Bank and Preston Sewage Treatment Works were upgraded in 1999 to ensure the discharges were treated and disinfected to protect bathing water quality. Upgrades to Wigan and Skelmersdale Sewage Treatment Works, located on the inland River Ribble catchment, have also been completed by United Utilities. Wigan Sewage Treatment Works was further improved in 2008 by United Utilities to provide additional storage to protect bathing water quality. The Weld Road storm overflow located to the north of Ainsdale was improved in 2003 by United Utilities which, in addition to the closure of Lulworth Road and Saxon Road storm overflows, has improved bathing water quality.
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Working with Sefton Borough Council the Environment Agency has investigated the impact of contaminated surface water outfalls and the drainage system of a holiday park close to Ainsdale bathing water. Actions have been undertaken to resolve the issues. 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 94% 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.
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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. This bathing water can be affected by occasional blooms of Phytoplankton (microscopic algae) which are not harmful, but can result in the water appearing discoloured or a foam forming on the water. 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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There are no active pollution risk forecasts made at this bathing water. However any bathing water has the potential to be affected by a pollution incident and if this occurs a pollution risk warning with associated advice against bathing will be issued on this website.
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2024 Bathing Water Profile for Ainsdale
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2024-09-30
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2024-05-01
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The River Ribble can cause reduced water quality at Ainsdale particularly after 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 Ainsdale for the four year (2020-2023) assessment period where data is available, sewage debris was not assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable, but was observed as being present on 2% of visits. Litter was not assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable, but was observed as being present on 89% of visits. Tarry residue was not assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable, but was observed as being present on 3% of visits.
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The River Ribble catchment contains significant areas of farmland both around the estuary and further inland. Grazing on the Ribble Estuary salt marshes can impact Ainsdale bathing water. During and after periods of heavy rainfall excess water may not soak into agricultural land causing run off into rivers and the sea. High spring tides can cover the salt marsh and cause wash off from the land. The quality of the bathing water may decline as a result of such events. Catchment Sensitive Farming, implemented 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. A project is currently underway within the River Ribble catchment focusing on reducing the impact on water quality from farms.
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The Environment Agency worked with the owner of a holiday park located close to Ainsdale bathing water to resolve wrong connections on site to improve bathing water quality. Work has been undertaken to correct wrong connections and to divert the surface water away from the bathing water.
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Ainsdale sits on the Sefton coastline which stretches for approximately 20 kilometres from Southport at the north end to Formby at the south. The catchment immediately surrounding the bathing water is urban. Further inland arable farmland dominates.
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Ainsdale
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Ainsdale
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Sampling point at Ainsdale
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329700
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53.60793515083233
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-3.063969846000971
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412900
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Sampling point at Ainsdale
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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 41300:1
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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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