2024 Bathing Water Profile for Eastoke
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The bathing water is situated on the south coast of Hayling Island facing across the Solent. The bathing water is primarily a steep shingle, groyned beach but with some sand exposed at low water. Immediately behind the beach are shops and amenities. A promenade runs from the bathing water eastwards to Sandy Point.
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Havant District
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Hampshire
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There is a storm overflow (Green lane storm overflow) less than 1 km to the west of the bathing water and another storm overflow (Fort Cumberland storm overflow) in the mouth of Langstone Harbour over 4 km to the west. 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 8km 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 (this included sewage from Budds Farm catchment which previously was discharged into the harbour). All effluent into Chichester Harbour receives at least further treatment and outfalls are a long way from this location. In 2008, ultraviolet disinfection was installed at the two largest sewage treatment works in Chichester Harbour. A new pumping station has recently been constructed at Eastney that will act as a back-up facility to the existing station that pumps sewage out the long sea outfall. This will help prevent the existing pumps being overridden, requiring emergency sewage pumping arrangements, in heavy storm and flooding events. This previously occurred in 2000 and 2006.
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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. 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 Eastoke
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2024-09-30
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2024-05-01
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There is a high standard of treatment at the sewage treatment works discharge 8 km from the shore of this bathing water which is designed to protect bathing water quality. There are three sewage treatment works outfalls in Chichester Harbour but they are a long way from the bathing water. The two largest discharges receive ultraviolet disinfection to protect 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 Eastoke 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 7% of visits, with 76% 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 at the south of Hayling Island. The natural drainage (hydrological) catchment surrounding the bathing water is approximately 3 hectares. There are no streams within the beach area but the mouth of Chichester Harbour is situated just over 2 km to the east and the mouth of Langstone Harbour is 4 kilometres to the west. Most streams and drainage from the island enters into the adjacent harbours. The southern end of the island is predominantly urban whereas the remainder of the island is predominantly arable and pastureland.
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Eastoke
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Eastoke
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Sampling point at Eastoke
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472900
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50.78059297941697
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-0.967327158509046
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98400
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Sampling point at Eastoke
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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 16300:1
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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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