2024 Bathing Water Profile for Wharfe at Cromwheel, Ilkley
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The bathing water site, known as ‘Wharfe at Cromwheel, Ilkley', is located on the River Wharfe at Ilkley, close to Ilkley town centre. It can be accessed from the Riverside Walk footpath alongside the river. When the river level is low, a gently sloping shingle beach is exposed. The Cromwheel site is located upstream of the suspension bridge and all discharges from Ilkley Sewage Treatment Works.
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Bradford District
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West Yorkshire
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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. The Environment Agency continues to work with and support local environmental groups with citizen science sampling projects on the River Wharfe and its tributaries. During the summers of 2021, 2022 and 2023, the Environment Agency has undertaken extensive water quality investigations in the River Wharfe at and upstream of the bathing water site at Cromwheel and in a number of tributaries. This has included the installation of continuous water quality monitors (sondes) at a number of sites along the River Wharfe and the collection of investigatory chemical and bacteriological samples. By using Microbial Source Tracking (MST) analysis techniques the Environment Agency has been able to identify that both agriculture and sewage can impact on water quality at the bathing water in dry weather conditions, however following rainfall in the catchment the impact from agricultural practises becomes much more significant.
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There are a number of storm overflows that discharge into the River Wharfe. In the 1km section of river upstream of the designated bathing water, there is a Combined Sewer Overflow (Rivadale View CSO) and a Sewage Pumping Station (Bridge Lane SPS). A further overflow from Middleton Pumping Station is located just to the north of the compliance monitoring point. When these outfalls are operating, they discharge diluted effluent into the river which may result in reduced bathing water quality.
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The Environment Agency works closely with Yorkshire Water to identify and deliver significant investment in sewerage infrastructure.
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The Environment Agency is supporting Yorkshire Water and City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council in progressing catchment investigations and undertaking work to minimise surface water entering the combined sewer, in order to reduce the operation of storm overflows. Bradford Council is expanding upon the works conducted as a Defra-funded pilot Natural Flood Management (NFM) on Backstone Beck that completed in 2022. Peatland restoration works are being progressed on other catchments on the moor.
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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 three year (2021-2023) assessment period where data is available, phytoplankton (microscopic algae) was assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable for 5% of visits, with 26% of visits noting the presence of phytoplankton (microscopic algae). Phytoplankton (microscopic algae) increase in number at certain times of the year. This process is known as a phytoplankton bloom. Blooms of phytoplankton can result in the water appearing discoloured or a foam forming on the water.
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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 Wharfe at Cromwheel, Ilkley
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2024-09-30
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2024-05-01
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Above the bathing water at Cromwheel, a number of named and unnamed streams flow into the River Wharfe. These streams and the main River Wharfe itself receive run off from both urban and rural areas which may have the potential to reduce bathing water quality. During or after periods of heavy rainfall the impact from these sources of pollution can increase the risk of reduced bathing water quality.
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Ilkley Sewage Treatment Works has a final effluent outfall and a storm/emergency outfall, which discharge to the River Wharfe, downstream of the designated bathing water site. There are a number of Sewage Treatment plants upstream of the bathing water.
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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 Wharfe at Cromwheel, Ilkley for the three year (2021-2023) assessment period where data is available, sewage debris was not noted at this site. Litter was assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable for 17% of visits, with 72% of visits noting the presence of litter. Tarry residue was not noted at this site.
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Part of the Environment Agency's role is to work with farmers to reduce the effects of farming on water quality. The Environment Agency provide advice to farmers on how to comply with regulations and good practice on farms to ensure that pollution entering watercourses is minimised. The River Wharfe catchment, upstream of Ilkley, is largely agricultural, with the upper reaches comprising predominantly low intensity livestock farming. During and after periods of heavy rainfall, runoff from agricultural areas will be greatly increased and this can adversely affect the quality of the bathing water.
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The Environment Agency works with industry and local businesses to provide advice and guidance on best practice and compliance with legislation.
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The Environment Agency continues to work with Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust and Catchment Sensitive Farming to idenify and address issues from agricultural land management practises in the catchment.
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There are a number of private sewage treatment plants within the catchment and the Environment Agency continues to work with the owners to ensure that these are adequately maintained and do not impact on the water quality of the streams they discharge to.
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The upper catchment of the River Wharfe lies within the Yorkshire Dales National Park. The surrounding hillside is scattered with springs and old mine workings. It is mostly rural with several small centres of population including Kettlewell and Grassington and is primarily a mixture of low intensity livestock farming. There are a number of designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) within the catchment including the stretch of the River Wharfe which flows from Buckden to the south of Kettlewell. Below the National Park the Wharfe flows through the village of Addingham and the larger market town of Ilkley.
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Wharfe at Cromwheel, Ilkley
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Wharfe at Cromwheel, Ilkley
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Sampling point at Wharfe at Cromwheel, Ilkley
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412167
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53.93188669519488
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-1.816182633584011
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448432
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Sampling point at Wharfe at Cromwheel, Ilkley
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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 08901:1
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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 and into rivers and streams. 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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