2024 Bathing Water Profile for Wilsthorpe
-
Wilsthorpe Beach is a rural sandy beach on the east Yorkshire coast to the south of the bathing water at Bridlington South Bay. It is 1.4 kilometres in length with a gentle slope. At low tide a large area of the beach is exposed and the water's edge can be some distance away.
-
East Riding of Yorkshire
-
East Riding of Yorks
-
The Environment Agency works with the water companies, local authorities and others to investigate any sources of contamination and to improve water quality at local bathing waters.
-
Bathing water quality may sometimes be affected by storm, emergency and surface water outfalls. Storm overflows may operate during and following periods of heavy rainfall when the sewer system becomes overwhelmed by the amount of surface water entering. The overflows prevent sewage from backing up pipes and flooding properties. There are no storm overflows discharging directly into the bathing water at Wilsthorpe. However, there are several storm overflows to the north including one emergency short sea outfall and a new long-sea storm outfall that discharge into Bridlington South Bay. When these overflows operate, they discharge diluted and screened effluent into the sea. While the operation of these outfalls can still result in a decline in the bathing water quality, the impacts are likely to be much less than previous years.
-
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 22% of visits. Environment Agency research suggests the bathing water is not subject to an excess of seaweed (macro algae).
-
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.
-
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. TheEnvironment Agency research suggests 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.
-
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 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 12 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.
-
2024 Bathing Water Profile for Wilsthorpe
-
2024-09-30
-
2024-05-01
-
There are no streams or rivers draining onto the bathing water at Wilsthorpe.
-
There are no outfalls discharging directly into the bathing water. However, treated effluents from Bridlington Sewage Treatment Works may affect bathing water compliance at Wilsthorpe Beach. The sewage treatment works was built in 2000 to ensure effluents are treated and disinfected to protect the bathing water quality and treated effluent is discharged via a long sea outfall into the North Sea in Bridlington South Bay.
-
Environment Agency samplers make observations of litter present on the beach at every visit, this includes assessments of sewage debris, litter and tar. At Wilsthorpe 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 32% of visits. Tarry residue was not assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable, but was observed as being present on 79% of visits.
-
There is no industry in the Wilsthorpe catchment. However, there is an industrial estate in the catchment of Fraisthorpe Beach to the south. At present, the Environment Agency are uncertain whether pollutants coming from the Fraisthorpe catchment have an affect on the bathing water compliance at Wilsthorpe. Although the tests conducted to date have not identified any obvious impact, the Environment Agency will continue with their investigations as issues arise and implement remedial actions with those responsible.
-
The Yorkshire Bathing Water Partnership is working together to ensure Yorkshire's bathing beaches meet or go beyond the requirements of the revised 2015 Bathing Water Directive. The Partnership comprises the Environment Agency, East Riding of Yorkshire Council, North Yorkshire Council and Yorkshire Water. A tactical group comprising officers from all organisations meets on a regular basis to discuss issues, actions and potential resolutions at all our coastal bathing waters.
-
An area of 0.01 square kilometres (known as the hydrological catchment) drains into the bathing water. There are no freshwater streams within the catchment, the natural drainage catchment is made up of surface water runoff from the cliffs. The bathing water is surrounded by two other bathing waters, Bridlington South Beach to the north and Fraisthorpe Beach to the south and may be impacted by the same issues as those affecting the surrounding beaches.
-
Wilsthorpe
-
Wilsthorpe
-
Sampling point at Wilsthorpe
-
517407
-
54.066240104944484
-
-0.207501208719827
-
464850
-
Sampling point at Wilsthorpe
-
-
-
p152 dT23 h59 m59 s
-
2024 05 01 t00:00:00
-
2024-05-01T00:00:00
-
-
2024 09 30 t23:59:59
-
2024-09-30T23:59:59
-
-
-
2024 08200:1
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
Discharges from sewage treatment works have improved substantially in England since the 1980s.
-
