2019 Bathing Water Profile for Wells
-
Wells beach forms part of the Holkham estate. It is a long sweeping sandy beach backed by dunes and pine trees. The beach continues eastwards but can be cut off by the tide. There is a national nature reserve and salt marshes nearby.
-
North Norfolk
-
Norfolk
-
The Environment Agency has worked with the water companies, local authorities and the land owner to investigate any sources of contamination and to improve water quality. This has included investigations into reduced water quality and the identification of sewerage infrastructure improvements. The Environment Agency has undertaken some investigations in late 2018 to look at potential sources of pollution. This work will continue in the 2019 bathing season.
-
There are a number of outfalls discharging into the harbour from the town. Improvements have been carried out to storm, emergency and surface water outfalls which have the potential to affect bathing water quality. 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/
-
Anglian Water has worked with the Environment Agency over a long period to help make improvements in their sewerage infrastructure in and around Wells. This has contributed towards improvements in bathing water quality. Anglian Water undertook a source apportionment study looking at potential sources and pathways of contamination. This work will inform the continuing Environment Agency investigations.
-
The Environment Agency are working with the District Council and Wells Harbour Commissioners to ensure there are no polluting discharges which are unrelated to the sewerage network.
-
For the four year (2015-2018) assessment period where data is available, seaweed (macroalgae) was not assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable, but was observed as being present on 58% of visits. This bathing water does not have a history of large amounts of seaweed (macro algae). However groynes and rocks, platforms or other fixed objects may develop a covering of seaweed which can be slippery.
-
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 (2015-2018) 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. 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.
-
2019 Bathing Water Profile for Wells
-
2019-09-30
-
2019-05-01
-
There are very limited freshwater inputs into the harbour. The most significant of these drains the grazed Holkham marshes and the wildfowl scrapes of the North Norfolk Nature reserves. Water quality can be subsequently reduced due to run off from these areas.
-
Wells Sewage Treatment Works was upgraded in 1995 with UV disinfection added to protect bathing water quality and, as a result, does not affect bathing water compliance
-
Environment Agency samplers make observations of litter present on the beach at every visit, this includes assessments of sewage debris, litter and tar. At Wells for the four year (2015-2018) 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 57% of visits. Tarry residue was not noted at this site.
-
Wells is within the North Norfolk Coast Catchment Sensitive Farming area. This is a partnership between Natural England and the Environment Agency. Its aim is to work with farmers to enhance farming practices and reduce run off from farmlands.
-
The beach is the seaward end of Wells harbour, which now serves the offshore wind industry. There is a historic crab and shellfish industry in the town. The catchment is principally rural in nature and there is minimal freshwater inputs into the harbour. A number of surface water outfalls discharge into the harbour from the town's historic sewerage system.
-
Wells
-
Wells
-
Sampling point at Wells
-
591400
-
52.9735988523048
-
0.84908086480549
-
345600
-
Sampling point at Wells
-
-
-
p152 dT23 h59 m59 s
-
2019 05 01 t00:00:00
-
2019-05-01T00:00:00
-
-
2019 09 30 t23:59:59
-
2019-09-30T23:59:59
-
-
-
2019 10000:1
-
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 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.
-
