2024 Bathing Water Profile for Cromer
-
Cromer is a popular resort on the North Norfolk coast. The beach has a promenade behind and the town on low cliffs above. The designated bathing beach is sand and shingle, backed by sandy cliffs and close to the pier. Rock pools are revealed at low tide. The appearance of the beach can vary rapidly during storm events resulting in significant changes to the build-up of sand next to the sea wall.
-
North Norfolk District
-
Norfolk
-
The Environment Agency has worked with the water companies, local authorities and others 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.
-
Storm water arising in the town is contained within a large storage tank and pumped for treatment when capacity becomes available. In extreme storm conditions (approx once in five years) excess storm sewage is discharged and could cause a reduction in bathing water quality. There are a number of pipes that discharge surface water and highway drainage onto the beach during periods of rainfall, which may lead to reduced 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/
-
The Environment Agency and Anglian Water have worked closely together to make improvements in the sewerage infrastructure in order to improve bathing water quality. The long sea outfall serving the area was built in 1995 and replaced a number short sea outfalls at Cromer, and other nearby resorts. Separate pipes allow the release of surface water drainage on to the beach during rainfall.
-
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 55% 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 (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 2% 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.
-
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.
-
2024 Bathing Water Profile for Cromer
-
2024-09-30
-
2024-05-01
-
The Sewage Treatment Works serving Cromer were upgraded in 2001 to protect bathing water quality. This sewage works discharges to the North Sea via a 2km long sea outfall off West Runton and does not affect compliance at this bathing water.
-
Environment Agency samplers make observations of litter present on the beach at every visit, this includes assessments of sewage debris, litter and tar. At Cromer 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 21% of visits. Tarry residue was not noted at this site.
-
Cromer beach is close to an urban area on sandy soils and there are no rivers which outfall on to the beach.
-
Cromer
-
Cromer
-
Sampling point at Cromer
-
622025
-
52.93254114631521
-
1.302181256100388
-
342339
-
Sampling point at Cromer
-
-
-
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 10200:1
-
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.
-
