2024 Bathing Water Profile for Worthing Beach House
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The bathing water is a resort beach on the south coast in West Sussex, backed by a mainly urban area with the town centre close by. The bathing water is predominantly a groyned, shingle beach but with gently shelving sand exposed at low water. A promenade sits above the beach with a pier and lido to the west.
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Worthing District
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West Sussex
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There are 2 surface water outfalls near the bathing water. One 400m to the west, one 200m to the east. Reduced water quality may persist in the area adjacent to the outfalls for some time after rainfall has occurred.
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In 1996 sewage from the Worthing area was transferred to Worthing sewage treatment works and received primary treatment before being discharged via a long sea outfall 5 km from the bathing water. In 2002 Worthing sewage treatment works was upgraded and the effluent is further treated before being discharged through the long sea outfall.
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The bathing water can become covered with seaweed, depending on tides and the weather. Groynes, rocks and other fixed objects may have 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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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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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 Worthing Beach House
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2024-09-30
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2024-05-01
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To the east of the bathing water there is a stream that is drained via an outfall some 2km distant and another stream is 6km to the west.
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There is a high standard of treatment at the sewage treatment works discharge 5 km from the shore of this bathing water which is designed to protect bathing water quality.
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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.
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The beach is situated in a flat-lying coastal plain without a significant river network in the immediate vicinity of the bathing water. The natural drainage (hydrological) catchment surrounding the bathing water is approximately 14km2. The catchment is mainly urban and covers most of Worthing town. Rainfall is drained from the town by a surface water drainage network that discharge to the sea between the high and low water marks via numerous outfalls. To the east of the bathing water there is a stream that is drained via an outfall some 2km distant and another stream is 6km to the west.
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Worthing Beach House
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Worthing Beach House
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Sampling point at Worthing Beach House
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515580
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50.81068
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-0.36086
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102517
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Sampling point at Worthing Beach House
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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 15350:1
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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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