2024 Bathing Water Profile for Southwold The Denes
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Southwold the Denes beach is a sand and shingle beach. It is backed by sand dunes and set in a quiet rural area with marshes nearby. The River Blyth estuary is to the south and the town of Southwold a kilometre to the north.
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East Suffolk District
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Suffolk
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Investigations have indicated the River Blyth may be a source of lower water quality at this bathing water. In 2013 a tracer survey was undertaken where harmless spores were introduced to the sewage works effluent. Their presence was then recorded at the harbour mouth and the Denes beach. Significant numbers were recorded at the beach which indicated the sewage treatment works was impacting upon the beach.
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Storm overflows may operate during periods of very heavy rainfall and discharge diluted sewage effluent to the River Blyth. 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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All sewage arising from the town is treated at the treatment works. No treated or untreated sewage enters the sea directly. As part of their National Environment Programme the water company has undertaken a review of pollution sources which could impact the bathing water. Source apportionment and tracer studies undertaken by Anglian Water in 2016 confirmed the link between the Southwold Water Recycling Centre, discharging the the Blyth Estuary, and the bathing water. Disinfection of the the final effluent is to be provided as part of the next water company investment programme. Prior to the permanent scheme, temporary chemical disinfection began in the 2019 bathing season.
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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 85% 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.
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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 noted at this site. 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 these could be contributing to some of the recent poor samples. 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 Southwold The Denes
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2024-09-30
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2024-05-01
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This bathing water is situated close to the estuary of the River Blyth. Rivers are typically affected by human and agricultural activity further up the catchment. This may affect water quality particularly after periods of heavy rainfall.
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Southwold sewage treatment discharges fully treated effluent to the River Blyth. In 2016 a major investigation by Anglian Water suggested that Southwold sewage treatment works was adversely affecting the beach. As a consequence, chemical disinfection was started during the 2019 bathing season and will be in place every subsequent bathing season.
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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 Southwold The Denes for the four year (2020-2023) assessment period where data is available, sewage debris was not noted at this site. Litter was assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable for 1% of visits, with 53% of visits noting the presence of litter. Tarry residue was not noted at this site.
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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.
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Should private owners be identified as a source of pollution we will work with them to resolve the problem. As an example, one business on the harbour has connected to the public foul sewer, reducing the polluting impact.
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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 is 1.5 km to the north of the Denes beach, it has a small urban and rural catchment but does not flow into to the sea. The Blyth Estuary 2km to the south has a large mainly rural catchment and the harbour is popular for fishing and sailing. There is also a caravan park near-by.
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Southwold The Denes
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Southwold The Denes
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Sampling point at Southwold The Denes
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650800
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52.319374676698395
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1.678661081999749
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275400
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Sampling point at Southwold The Denes
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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 10850:1
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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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