2024 Bathing Water Profile for Southport
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Southport is a sandy beach located at the northern end of the Sefton coastline. It has a very shallow gradient with large areas of sand exposed throughout the tidal cycle. Only at very high water is the beach completely covered by the sea up to the sea wall. There is a promenade above the beach and a pier to the north of the bathing water.
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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 Southport. A computer model has been developed to predict the impact of pollution sources, including water company discharges, on bathing water quality. The Environment Agency can use a DNA identification technique to help show whether sources of pollution are of human or animal origin. In 2009 and 2010 this method was used at Southport which confirmed the need to investigate and address local outfalls as well as discharges into the Ribble Estuary. In 2011 the Environment Agency surveyed the catchment around Southport to identify sources of contamination. Where significant issues were found these have been investigated and improvements required where needed. 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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There is a disused outfall south of the pier. There is no impact on bathing water quality from this outfall. To the north of Southport bathing water there are number of storm, emergency and surface water outfalls that discharge to the River Ribble and its estuary. Sewer overflows operating during, and following, periods of heavy rain can result in reduced bathing water quality at Southport. In 2013 a significant programme of improvements to these overflows was completed by United Utilities to protect bathing water quality. The programme included the construction of a large storage tunnel (40,790 m3) to the south of the River Ribble to store storm flows as well as a number of other individual schemes to improve storm and emergency overflows. As part of the improvement programme of work for United Utilities (from 2015 to 2021) the storm overflows from Chorley, Blackburn and Preston Sewage Treatment Works have been improved to protect bathing water quality. The programme also requires that storm overflows close to bathing waters have 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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Whilst there are no water company assets within the bathing water area there are a number located on the River Ribble and its estuary which can, after heavy rainfall, impact on Southport’s bathing water quality. The Environment Agency has worked closely with United Utilities since the early 1990s to improve the sewerage infrastructure around Southport. Investigations in the early 1990s showed that the biggest impact on Southport bathing water quality was four storm overflows discharging untreated sewage onto the foreshore which were subsequently removed. In 1994 Sea Change, a £500 million coastal clean-up, was launched by the Environment Agency in conjunction with United Utilities, to improve the bathing water quality in the North West. Under this programme United Utilities upgraded Preston Sewage Treatment Works and built a new sewage treatment works at Southport. Further improvements at Southport Sewage Treatment Works were made by United Utilities in 2001 and 2002 to improve storm discharges and the disinfection treatment, and in 2008 were built upon further when the storm sewage provisions were upgraded 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 are 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 south of Southport was improved by United Utilities in 2003 improving 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 87% 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. In 2012 the Environment Agency carried out a misconnection campaign on a large surface water drainage catchment which discharges through an outfall close to Southport bathing water. Where misconnections were found property owners were asked to take action to correct the wrong connection in conjunction with Sefton Borough Council. United Utilities surveyed a large catchment immediately to the south of the bathing water during 2014 and 2015. Where misconnections were found United Utilities has worked with property owners to resolve them.
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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 1% 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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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, wind, sunlight 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 17 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 Southport
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2024-09-30
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2024-05-01
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A step change improvement in bathing water quality at Southport was identified from 5th May 2014 due to improvements made to United Utilities assets within the Ribble catchment. Bathing water quality monitoring samples collected prior to this date are not used for classification.
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The River Ribble can cause reduced water quality at Southport particularly after rainfall.
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There are a number of sewage treatment works, including Southport and Preston, which can impact Southport bathing water quality. However, they all have disinfection provided ensuring bathing water quality is protected. In 2012 United Utilities upgraded Blackburn Sewage Treatment Works providing disinfection to deliver bathing water improvements.
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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 Southport 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 1% of visits. Litter was assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable for 1% of visits, with 80% of visits noting the presence of litter. Tarry residue was not noted at this site.
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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 Southport 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, which is 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 Ribble catchment. It enables farmers and land managers to take action to reduce the impact from farms on water quality.
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The Sefton coastline stretches for approximately 20 kilometres from Southport in the north to Formby in the south. The town of Southport lies behind the bathing water with mainly arable farming further inland. Immediately to the north of Southport the River Ribble flows out to the Irish Sea through the Ribble Estuary.
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Southport
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Southport
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Sampling point at Southport
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332200
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53.65319869379517
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-3.027283040613478
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417900
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Sampling point at Southport
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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 41500:1
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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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