2024 Bathing Water Profile for Clacton
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Clacton is a busy seaside resort. The sandy beach is gently shelving and backed by the promenade and beach huts. Cliffs form a backdrop with the greensward and the town behind. The installation of fish tail groynes and the recharging of sand has allowed a good beach to be accessable at states of the tide.
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Tendring
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Essex
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No investigative studies have been undertaken at the beach. However, it has benefited from other work in the local area.
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Between 1988 and 2000 the large parts of the sewage infrastructure was significantly upgraded. There remains a storm and emergency discharge near the north east end of the beach, known as the Gunfleet outfall, which may operate during periods of extreme rainfall. 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 their sewerage infrastructure in and around Clacton. This has contributed towards improvements in bathing water quality at this beach. Previously, the bathing waters on the Tendring Peninsula were heavily influenced by a number of sea outfalls. Improved treatment is now in place at the long sea outfall at Holland-on-Sea, and most of the storm overflows have been eliminated. This has resulted in a significant improvement in water quality under normal conditions. Between 1988 and 2000 significant parts of the sewage infrastructure was upgraded and the treatment works at Holland-on-Sea was improved. There were a number of storm overflows with sea outfalls along the coast. A large tunnel was constructed under the promenade between Clacton Pier and Holland Sewage Treatment Works and most of the storm overflows now go to this tunnel rather than to the sea.
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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 82% 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 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.
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This bathing water is subject to short term pollution procedures. The Environment Agency makes a daily pollution risk forecast at this site based on the effects of rain, wind and seasonality on bathing water quality. These factors affect the levels of bacteria that get washed into the sea from livestock, sewage and urban drainage via rivers and streams and how they disperse. When these factors combine to make short term pollution likely we issue a pollution risk warning on this website and the beach manager will display a sign advising against bathing at the bathing water. After a short term pollution event, levels of bacteria typically return to normal after a day or so but it’s possible to have several warning days in a row. Details of the work to reduce the sources of bacteria at this bathing water are detailed in this profile. In 2023 3 pollution risk warnings were issued for this bathing water. All bathing waters have the potential to be affected by a pollution incident and if this occurs a pollution risk warning will be issued with associated advice against bathing on this website.
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2024 Bathing Water Profile for Clacton
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2024-09-30
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2024-05-01
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The Sewage Treatment Works serving the Clacton catchment discharges to the North Sea via a 1 km long sea outfall from north east of Holland on Sea. This outfall does not affect bathing water compliance at this beach.
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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 Clacton for the four year (2020-2023) assessment period where data is available, sewage debris was not assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable, but was observed as being present on 2% of visits. Litter was not assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable, but was observed as being present on 73% of visits. Tarry residue was not noted at this site.
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Clacton is within the Stour and Colne 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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The Tendring Peninsula is generally flat, rising to 30 metres above sea level. The area is predominantly rural apart from the coastal resorts. Agriculture in the catchment is mixed arable and livestock and there is no heavy industry. There are no rivers or freshwater inputs direct or close to the beach. The beach is backed by urban areas and the town.
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Clacton
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Clacton
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Sampling point at Clacton
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618790
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51.79309947559957
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1.171319951192254
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215250
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Sampling point at Clacton
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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 11500:1
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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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