2019 Bathing Water Profile for Sheerness
-
Sheerness bathing water is on the north coast of the Isle of Sheppey in Kent, near the mouths of the Thames and Medway estuaries. It is a gently sloping shingle beach, backed by a large sea defence wall, which forms the promenade.
-
Swale
-
Kent
-
There are no emergency or storm overflows into the bathing water or its catchment. Storm overflow discharges into the Thames and Medway estuaries are designed to protect bathing water quality where appropriate.
-
Grain sewage treatment works, which discharges into the mouth of the Medway 2.7 km northwest of the bathing water sampling site, was upgraded to further treatment in 2006. Queenborough sewage treatment works, which discharges into the Swale approximately 5.5 km from the bathing water was upgraded to further treatment in 2000 and ultraviolet disinfection was installed prior to 2005 to improve shellfish water quality.
-
For the four year (2015-2018) assessment period where data is available, seaweed (macroalgae) was not assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable, but was observed as being present on 79% of visits. 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.
-
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.
-
For the four year (2015-2018) 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 4% of visits. Phytoplankton (microscopic algae) 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.
-
2019 Bathing Water Profile for Sheerness
-
2019-09-30
-
2019-05-01
-
There are no streams into the bathing water but there is a boating lake discharge 2 km east of the bathing water and it is close to the mouths of both the Thames and Medway estuaries. The Thames and Medway estuaries receive inputs from various sources but there is no evidence that these affect bathing water compliance at Sheerness.
-
Grain sewage treatment works discharges further treated effluent into the mouth of the Medway 2.7 km northwest of the bathing water sampling site. Queenborough sewage treatment works discharges further treated, ultraviolet disinfected effluent into the Swale approximately 5.5 km from the bathing water sampling site. The Thames and Medway estuaries both receive treated sewage discharges at various points, resulting in significant bacteriological loads into these estuaries; however the sewage discharges are designed to protect bathing water compliance where appropriate.
-
Environment Agency samplers make observations of litter present on the beach at every visit, this includes assessments of sewage debris, litter and tar. At Sheerness for the four year (2015-2018) assessment period where data is available, sewage debris was not noted at this site. Litter was not assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable, but was observed as being present on 64% of visits. Tarry residue was not noted at this site.
-
The natural drainage (hydrological) catchment surrounding the bathing water is approximately 120 hectares. It is an urban catchment comprising much of the town of Sheerness.
-
Sheerness
-
Sheerness
-
Sampling point at Sheerness
-
591917
-
51.44326276918685
-
0.760235343877594
-
175199
-
Sampling point at Sheerness
-
-
-
p152 dT23 h59 m59 s
-
2019 05 01 t00:00:00
-
2019-05-01T00:00:00
-
-
2019 09 30 t23:59:59
-
2019-09-30T23:59:59
-
-
-
2019 11950:1
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
Discharges from sewage treatment works have improved substantially in England since the 1980s.
-
