2024 Bathing Water Profile for Rutland Water Whitwell Creek
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Rutland Water is situated in the County of Rutland, and is a popular location for watersports, walking and cycling. Whitwell Creek bathing water is situated on the Northern side of the lake, just South of the village of Whitwell.
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Rutland
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Rutland
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There is an overflow associated with Oakham sewage treatment works. This is designed to operate only during heay rainfall or emergencies to prevent sewer flooding. Improvements are due to take place by March 2025, to reduce storm spills from Oakham.
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The Environment Agency has worked closely with Anglian Water over a long period to reduce pollution and improve water quality.
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For the one year (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 19% of visits.
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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 Rutland Water Whitwell Creek
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2024-09-30
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2024-05-01
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Oakham sewage treatment works discharges into the western side of Rutland Water, approximately 6km from the bathing water. More stringent quality limits are due to be added to this permit by 2025.
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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 Rutland Water Whitwell Creek for the one year (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 43% of visits. Tarry residue was not noted at this site.
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The Environment Agency works with farmers to promote good practice and reduce potential sources of contamination.
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The Environment Agency works with business and industry to reduce and prevent pollution. There are no significant industrial areas in the catchments upstream of Rutland Water.
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Whitwell Creek is on the North side of Rutland Water. The two main watercourses which flow into Rutland Water are the North and South Gwash. The catchment of the South Gwash is mostly rural, with a mixed landscape of woodland, arable and livestock agriculture. The North Gwash catchment also has some rural areas, but also contains the town of Oakham. As well as being a site for recreation and water sports, Rutland Water also has a number of conservation designations, being an important site for a number of bird species and is a site of special scientific interest (SSSI).
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Rutland Water Whitwell Creek
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Rutland Water Whitwell Creek
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Sampling point at Rutland Water Whitwell Creek
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492626
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52.663507
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-0.631862
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308188
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Sampling point at Rutland Water Whitwell Creek
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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 09701:1
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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. 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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