2024 Bathing Water Profile for West Kirby
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West Kirby's sandy beach is approximately two kilometres long and faces south west over the Dee estuary. A large stretch of sand is exposed at the bathing water at low tide. There are four small islands close to the beach which can be reached on foot at low tide.
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Wirral
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Merseyside
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There are two storm overflows to the south of West Kirby bathing water at Shore Road and Caldy. Both of these were upgraded by United Utilities in 2009. There are no known impacts from these discharges on the bathing water. There is a storm overflow at Stanley Road to the north of the bathing water. Under the programme of work for United Utilities (from 2015 to 2020) all 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/
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In 1996, United Utilities built the Wallasey detention tank to reduce storm discharges on the North Wirral coast to the north east of the West Kirby bathing water. This improved the bathing water quality. A contaminated surface water outfall at Dee Lane in West Kirby town was fixed in 1997. A survey carried out following this showed an improvement in water quality. Heswall Sewage Treatment Works was upgraded by Dwr Cymru in 1997 to improve the discharge quality. It was then further upgraded in 1998 to provide disinfection of the discharge to improve bathing water quality. Meols Sewage Treatment Works to the north of West Kirby bathing water was upgraded by United Utilities in 2001 to provide improved treatment. It was upgraded again in 2005 to disinfect the treated discharge to protect bathing water quality. The sewage treatment works discharges through a long sea outfall which runs five kilometres out to sea with no known impact on the bathing water.
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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 38% 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. The quality of a surface water discharge to West Kirby beach near Dee Lane can deteriorate after heavy rainfall although this is not known to impact on bathing water quality. United Utilities have investigated the inputs to this surface water 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 20% 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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The Environment Agency makes a daily pollution risk forecast at this site based on the effects of tide, 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 cause a temporary reduction in water quality, we will issue a pollution risk warning on this website. Water quality will 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. No warnings were issued last season as this site is new to PRF. 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 West Kirby
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2024-09-30
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2024-05-01
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West Kirby bathing water is located on the eastern side of the mouth of the Dee Estuary. The River Dee drains a large area and the land use in this area impacts on the bathing water quality. The extent of agricultural land means that during and after periods of heavy rainfall, runoff will significantly increase and can affect the 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 West Kirby 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 38% of visits. Tarry residue was not noted at this site.
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The bathing water is situated on the low lying Wirral peninsula. The land in the catchment is mainly urban with some agricultural land use. Most streams and drains in this area flow eastwards into the River Mersey estuary away from the bathing water.
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West Kirby
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West Kirby
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Sampling point at West Kirby
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320710
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53.37049628009628
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-3.193165228018245
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386621
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Sampling point at West Kirby
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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 40750:1
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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 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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