2022 Bathing Water Profile for Southwold The Pier
-
Southwold is a traditional beach resort with a refurbished pier and beach huts. The beach is sandy, gently sloping and backed by the promenade and the town at a higher level. There is very little beach at high tide.
-
East Suffolk
-
Suffolk
-
The Environment Agency has looked for the potential cause of the very occasional poor quality water recorded at this site. It is possible this is linked to algal activity but this is still under investigation. Additional samples were taken in 2019 to investigate this issue but a definative cause has not been identified.
-
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/
-
As part of their National Environment Programme the water company has undertaken a review of pollution sources which could impact this bathing water. The results indicated none of their assets affected this bathing water.
-
For the four year (2018-2021) assessment period where data is available, seaweed (macroalgae) was not assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable, but was observed as being present on 49% of visits. Whilst seaweed (macro algae) is regularly recorded as present, it is not observed in large quantities on the beach and in the bathing water. 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 (2018-2021) 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 but this will be investigated further as it is thought that some of the recent poor samples may be due to algal activity. 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.
-
2022 Bathing Water Profile for Southwold The Pier
-
2022-09-30
-
2022-05-01
-
Southwold sewage treatment discharges fully treated effluent to the River Blyth and does not affect the 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 Southwold The Pier for the four year (2018-2021) 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 41% of visits. Tarry residue was not noted at this site.
-
Southwold is within the Blyth 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.
-
Southwold is encircled by the North Sea to the east, by the River Blyth and Southwold harbour to the south-west and by Buss Creek to the north. Buss Creek has a small urban and rural catchment but does not flow into to the sea. The Blyth River 2km to the south has a large mainly rural catchment.
-
Southwold The Pier
-
Southwold The Pier
-
Sampling point at Southwold The Pier
-
651300
-
52.33080938939501
-
1.686951566051651
-
276700
-
Sampling point at Southwold The Pier
-
-
-
p152 dT23 h59 m59 s
-
2022 05 01 t00:00:00
-
2022-05-01T00:00:00
-
-
2022 09 30 t23:59:59
-
2022-09-30T23:59:59
-
-
-
2022 10830:1
-
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.
-
