2024 Bathing Water Profile for Lowestoft (South of Claremont Pier)

http://environment.data.gov.uk/data/bathing-water-profile/ukh1407-10800/2024:1

  • bathing water description
    Lowestoft's South Beach is the main resort beach in North Suffolk. It is a is a fine sandy beach backed by a promenade with many multicoloured beach huts. Above the promenade there are gardens, leisure facilities and many hotels and B&Bs laid out in classic Victorian style.
  • controller name
    East Suffolk District
  • county name
    Suffolk
  • ea investigations statement
    The Environment Agency has worked closely 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. The Environment Agency is working with Anglian Water to understand the reasons behind the recent deterioration in bathing water quality.
  • eso outfalls statement
    Improvements have been carried out to storm, emergency and surface water outfalls in the vicinity of the port and Lake Lothing. These improvements will have helped protect bathing water quality in the area. 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/
  • history statement
    Anglian Water has worked with the Environment Agency over a long period to help make improvements in sewerage infrastructure in and around Lowestoft. This has contributed towards improvements in bathing water quality. Lowestoft long sea outfall was upgraded by Anglian Water in 1998. Further improvements were put in place at Lowestoft Sewage Treatment Works in 2001 which have helped to protect the quality of the bathing water. Source apportionment and tracer surveys undertaken in 2017 indicate that outfalls discharging to the harbour area could be contributing to the recent deterioration of bathing water quality at the beach. Anglian Water are making improvements to their sewerage network to reduce the impact on the bathing waters.
  • macro algae statement
    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 45% 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.
  • misconnections statement
    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.
  • phytoplankton statement
    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.
  • pollution risk forecast statement
    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.
  • pollution risk forecasting
    false
  • pref label
    2024 Bathing Water Profile for Lowestoft (South of Claremont Pier)
  • sampling frequency
    20
  • season finish date
    2024-09-30
  • season start date
    2024-05-01
  • streams rivers statement
    There are no streams or rivers that affect this bathing water. The quality of Lake Lothing may deteriorate after period of rainfall and this may persist for a while. However, due to the tidal currents this does not affect bathing water quality at the beach.
  • stw outfalls statement
    Lowestoft Sewage Treatment Works discharges to the North Sea over a kilometre off Ness Point. Improvements were put in place at the works in 2001 to protect the quality of the bathing water. Due to the location of the outfall the sewage effluent discharge does not affect bathing water compliance.
  • version string
    1
  • visible pollution statement
    Environment Agency samplers make observations of litter present on the beach at every visit, this includes assessments of sewage debris, litter and tar. At Lowestoft (South of Claremont Pier) 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 65% of visits. Tarry residue was not noted at this site.
  • zoi description
    This beach is removed from the busy port of Lowestoft (See Lowestoft North). There are no rivers, streams or surface water drainage that can impact upon this beach.
  • bathing water

    Lowestoft (South of Claremont Pier)

  • local authority
    East Suffolk District
  • season interval

    p152 dT23 h59 m59 s

  • source
    row=0089
  • standard language collection

    2024 10800:1

    • algae general statement
      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.
    • eso outfalls general statement
      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.
    • local authority general statement
      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.
    • pollution management general statement
      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.
    • stw outfalls general statement
      Discharges from sewage treatment works have improved substantially in England since the 1980s.
  • web res image
    ukh1407 10800 1 webres.jpg

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