2024 Bathing Water Profile for West Wittering
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The bathing water is situated on the south coast at the eastern side of Chichester Harbour entrance in West Sussex. The bathing water is a gently shelving sandy beach and shallow lagoons remain on the wide sandy flats at low water. Immediately behind the beach are extensive areas of mown grass. East Head, a sand dune spit, extends into the harbour entrance at the western end of the bathing water.
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Chichester District
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West Sussex
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There is a storm overflow called Charlmead East storm overflow 3 km to the east. Discharges occur when heavy rainfall overwhelms the sewerage system but are designed not to affect bathing water compliance.
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Prior to 1993, Eastney long sea outfall was commissioned taking preliminary treated sewage to an outfall 11km from the shore of the bathing water. In 2001, sewage from the Eastney catchment was transferred to Budds Farm sewage treatment works in Langstone Harbour for further treatment and then all treated sewage was transferred back to discharge out of the Eastney long sea outfall. All effluent into Chichester Harbour receives at least further treatment. In 2008, ultraviolet disinfection was installed at the two largest sewage treatment works in Chichester Harbour.
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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 53% 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.
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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. 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 West Wittering
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2024-09-30
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2024-05-01
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There is a treated sewage treatment works discharge 11 km from the shore of this bathing water which is designed to protect bathing water quality. There are three sewage treatment work outfalls in Chichester Harbour. The two largest discharges receive ultraviolet disinfection to protect nearby shellfish beds, which further protects 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 West Wittering 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 assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable for 7% of visits, with 19% of visits noting the presence of litter. Tarry residue was not noted at this site.
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The bathing water is situated in a low lying area adjacent to Chichester Harbour. The natural drainage (hydrological) catchment surrounding the bathing water is approximately 16 hectares. There are no streams within the beach area but the mouth of Chichester Harbour is situated immediately to the west. Most streams and drainage in the surrounding area enters into the harbour or flows away to the east. The surrounding area is rural with a number of villages and small towns set among arable and pastureland.
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West Wittering
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West Wittering
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Sampling point at West Wittering
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476800
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50.776494304924896
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-0.912101831012926
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98000
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Sampling point at West Wittering
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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 16100:1
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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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