2024 Bathing Water Profile for River Deben Estuary, Waldringfield
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Waldringfield Bathing Water is an estuarine site on the River Deben. It is a quiet, and predominantly rural area. The town of Woodbridge is approximately 5 kilometres upstream.
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East Suffolk District
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Suffolk
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The Environment Agency can use a DNA tracing technique to identify whether sources of pollution are human or non-human. Analysis of three samples taken in 2023 showed clear evidence of faecal pollution from seabirds; human signals possibly from non-faecal waste sources e.g., misconnections from washing machines, showers, hand basins and faecal waste sources; possible signal from pigs and clear evidence of dog DNA. The DNA technique cannot yet be used to ‘source apportion’ and DNA markers are not yet available for all species (for example seals). The high sample taken in September 2023 was taken on an astronomical high tide and parts of the shoreline not usually submerged were covered by tide. Bacteria that would not normally enter the watercourse would have been washed in. It is possible this bathing water will be affected by high tides, but the Environment Agency will continue to investigate this.
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This bathing water may be affected by discharges which can occur when heavy rainfall overwhelms the sewerage system and causes diluted sewage to overflow. Within the wider catchment of the bathing water there are several storm and emergency overflows.
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For the one year (2023) assessment period where data is available, seaweed (macroalgae) was assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable for 20% of visits, with 70% of visits noting the presence of seaweed (macroalgae).
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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 5% 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 River Deben Estuary, Waldringfield
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2024-09-30
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2024-05-01
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The Deben is a large catchment, there are several Sewage Treatment Works (STWs) upstream. Woodbridge STW is the closest to Waldringfield bathing water. Environment Agency has been working with Anglian Water to agree improvements and investigations required at their assets.
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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 River Deben Estuary, Waldringfield 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 50% of visits. Tarry residue was not noted at this site.
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Agricultural officers have undertaken full compliance visits to farms within the catchment, checking compliance with regulations. These include regulations on slurry, manure storage, planning and use of all fertilisers, dates of application, spreading controls and risk maps, checking livestock access to watercourses, as well as fuel oils, soil test results for nutrients and checks on fields that are next to rivers. Improvements have been made following these visits.
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The Deben catchment is approximately 395 km2, the river Deben rises at Debenham in Suffolk and flows south east through Woodbridge, where it becomes a tidal estuary before entering the North Sea. Waldringfield is on the tidal estuary portion of the River Deben and is a small, predominantly rural village. It is a popular sailing destination. The upstream catchment is mainly rural, with a few small urban areas such as the town of Woodbridge.
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River Deben Estuary, Waldringfield
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River Deben Estuary, Waldringfield
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Sampling point at River Deben Estuary, Waldringfield
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628600
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52.05172
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1.33273
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244500
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Sampling point at River Deben Estuary, Waldringfield
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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 10860:1
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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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