2024 Bathing Water Profile for Hastings Pelham Beach
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Hastings Pelham Beach is a resort beach within the district of Hastings in East Sussex. The beach is predominantly shingle, with shallow sand flats exposed at low water. Alexandra Park Stream drains into the sea via an outfall pipe across the beach, which also is exposed at low water. A promenade is above the beach with the urban backdrop of Hastings.
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Hastings
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East Sussex
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The Environment Agency investigated the complex Hastings catchment in order to identify possible sources of pollution. Surveys have been carried out since 2007 focusing on the Alexandra Park Stream catchment. The Environment Agency introduced a DNA tracing technique that helps us identify whether sources of faecal pollution are human or animal. Since 2009, we have been using this method at Hastings and the catchment of the Alexandra Park Stream. This means we can target further investigations and identify appropriate courses of corrective action. In 2013, the Environment Agency trialled innovative technology in Alexandra Park Stream to improve water quality. Since 2012 we have been taking samples in the stream throughout the park on a regular basis. In 2015 we deployed instruments that give us live data from around the park to identify times when pollution is higher and track pollution sources.
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Alexandra Park Stream enters the sea via an outfall pipe across the beach 250 metres west of the bathing water sampling point. Discharges from a number of storm overflows (including St. Helen's Down and Pilot Fields) are connected to this pipe. During and after periods of heavy rainfall, contamination from storm discharges and urban runoff can have an adverse effect on bathing water quality.
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The Environment Agency, Southern Water and others have made a number of improvements and upgrades in and around Hastings:- Improvements to the Rock-a-Nore storm outfall were completed prior to the 1996 bathing season. A number of the dual manhole and storm overflows were upgraded in 1998. A storm water tunnel was completed in 1999. Fifteen storm overflows were upgraded prior to the 2000 bathing season, and a further two overflows in 2003. In 2012 Southern Water completed a programme of investigation and modelling to try to quantify and identify causes of contamination to the surface water system that drains rainfall to the beach in Hastings. Southern Water improved the Hastings and Bexhill sewage treatment works (Galley Hill) prior to the 2003 bathing season. At the same time, flows from Combe Haven long sea outfall were diverted to the headworks at Hastings and Bexhill sewage treatment works, before discharging via the twin Long Sea Outfalls of Combe Haven and Bulverhythe. Under the programme of works for Southern Water (from 2020 to 2022) investigations within the catchment were carried out. This will help to identify where bathing water improvements may be needed in the future.
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The Hastings Bathing Water Quality Executive group has been established. The group consists of Hasting Borough Council, Southern Water, EA and other relevant organisations. The aim of the group is to work together to better understand risks to bathing water quality and put measures in place to make improvements.
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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 5% of visits. This bathing water does not have a history of large amounts of seaweed.
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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. Using the results from Southern Waters sewer network investigations, the Environment Agency, Hastings Borough Council and Southern Water have been identifying and rectifying misconnections within the Hastings catchment. Dual manholes have also being investigated and corrected. Further work is on-going, investigating pollution inputs into the lower and culverted parts of the catchment.
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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. Microscopic algae (phytoplankton) increase in number at certain times of the year. This process is known as a phytoplankton bloom. Blooms of phytoplankton can result in the water appearing discoloured or a foam forming on the water. 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, tide, 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 25 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 Hastings Pelham Beach
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2024-09-30
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2024-05-01
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Alexandra Park Stream inputs into the sea 250 metres west of the bathing water sampling point. There are two storm overflows within its catchment. During and after periods of heavy rainfall, contamination from urban runoff can have an adverse effect on bathing water quality.
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Bexhill and Hastings sewage treatment works at Galley Hill discharges through the long sea outfalls at Bulverhythe and Combe Haven. Prior to the 2003 bathing season, Southern Water upgraded the sewage treatment works to further treatment. The outfall is situated offshore approximately 6 kilometres (km) west of the bathing water.
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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 Hastings Pelham Beach 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 6% of visits, with 61% of visits noting the presence of litter. Tarry residue was not noted at this site.
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The natural drainage (hydrological) catchment surrounding the bathing water is approximately 1100 hectares of urban area. The upper catchment slopes steeply. Alexandra Park Stream originates in the north of Silverhill Park and runs through Alexandra Park. It passes through the town of Hastings via a culvert, and drains into the sea through an outfall just west of the bathing water.
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Hastings Pelham Beach
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Hastings Pelham Beach
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Sampling point at Hastings Pelham Beach
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582102
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50.85354404286179
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0.5857954003092
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109189
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Sampling point at Hastings Pelham Beach
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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 14100:1
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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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