2024 Bathing Water Profile for Mundesley
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Mundesley is a popular traditional seaside resort with a sandy beach and tidal pools. It is backed by a raised promenade lined with colourful wooden beach huts. Cliffs form the backdrop with cliff top gardens.
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North Norfolk
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Norfolk
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The Environment Agency has worked closely with the water companies 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.
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A storm overflow discharges into the river near the beach may operate if heavy rainfall overwhelms the sewerage system and could cause a decline in 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/
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Anglian Water, has worked with the Environment Agency over a long period to help make improvements to sewerage infrastructure in and around Mundesley. This has contributed towards improvements in bathing water quality. Mundesley Sewage Treatment Works was upgraded by Anglian Water in 1998 and 2001 to protect the bathing water quality. The long sea outfall from this works also discharges the fully treated effluent from North Walsham sewage treatment works.
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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 36% 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.
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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 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 6% 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.
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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 Mundesley
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2024-09-30
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2024-05-01
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The River Mun is piped across the beach and water quality may be reduced in the local area where it enters the sea. Large numbers of ducks on the Mill Pool may be a source of contamination
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The effluent from Mundesley and North Walsham Sewage Treatment Works enters the North Sea via a 1.4 km outfall pipe and does not affect compliance at this 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 Mundesley 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 15% of visits. Tarry residue was not noted at this site.
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In 2001, a blocked private sewer was found to be allowing untreated sewage to flow into the River Mun and subsequently into the bathing water. This was repaired and the water quality in the river improved.
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The River Mun flows through a rural catchment and outflows to the sea close to the bathing water.
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Mundesley
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Mundesley
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Sampling point at Mundesley
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631700
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52.87696084494732
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1.441775726252517
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336600
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Sampling point at Mundesley
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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 10300:1
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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. 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.
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Discharges from sewage treatment works have improved substantially in England since the 1980s.
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