2024 Bathing Water Profile for Weston-super-Mare Uphill Slipway
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Weston-super-Mare Uphill Slipway is on the Somerset coast overlooking the Bristol Channel. It is a sandy beach resort approximately 1.2 kilometres wide, next to the mouth of the River Axe. The Bristol Channel has a large tidal range and at low water mud can become exposed.
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North Somerset
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North Somerset
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The Environment Agency have been working over a number of years to investigate sources of pollution to this bathing water. Recent investigation work has been undertaken by Wessex Water as part of their investment programme. This included a review of sewerage performance within the Weston-Super-Mare area to determine what improvements, if any, would be needed to improve bathing water quality further to secure a Good Class and beyond to Excellent. These investigations included monitoring the quality of discharges and modelling the potential impact on bathing water quality. This was part of a National requirement on all Water Companies to better understand the impact of their assets on bathing water quality and what future investment might be required to meet Good and Excellent standards. This work was completed in 2022. We also work with Wessex Water and North Somerset Council to investigate, identify and improve misconnections to the surface water system. Our officers undertake regular inspections of the beach at Weston-super-Mare to check for any sources of contamination. Since 2007 we have carried out additional monitoring of the River Axe at Brean Cross sluice and the Uphill Great Rhyne at Uphill sluice alongside our routine bathing water monitoring at Weston-super-Mare. We have walked the catchment in wet and dry weather conditions, and sampled various tributaries of the Uphill Great Rhyne. The aim of these investigations is to help pinpoint pollution problems, and improve bathing water quality. Monitoring of both rivers continues and signs of contamination are investigated.
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There is an emergency/storm overflow from Weston-super-Mare STW pumping station, that discharges to the sea at Black Rock 540m from the Environment Agency monitoring point. The operation of the overflow can lead to a drop in water quality in the sea around Weston-super-Mare. The increased storm water storage capacity at the sewage works, completed in April 2013, should reduce the number of times this overflow spills in the bathing season. This bathing water is included in the Surfers Against Sewage “Safer Seas Service”. This service can alert you to Combined Storm Sewer Overflow discharges via a phone App and in addition, it includes the Environment Agency Pollution Risk Forecast warnings where they are available. Further details of the service can be found at - http://www.sas.org.uk/safer-seas-service/
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In the past this bathing water was affected by the outfall from the Weston-super-Mare sewage treatment works (STW) that discharges at Black Rock. The Wessex Water sewage treatment scheme for Weston-super-Mare, which provides secondary treatment and ultraviolet (UV) disinfection, was completed in 2000. Additional improvements were made to the sewerage system to reduce the frequency of storm and emergency overflows, particularly at the Black Rock outfall. In recent years further improvements have been made to reduce the frequency of storm spillage at Black Rock and improve UV disinfection performance, this included increasing storm sewage storage capacity at the STW and a scheme to reduce the volume of surface water entering the sewerage system.
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Weston-super-Mare is served by a combined (surface and sewer) system. Surface water can flow into the River Axe and Uphill Great Rhyne from urban areas and highway drains. This can affect bathing water quality, particularly after periods of rainfall. Wessex Water have regularly inspected and sampled surface water outfalls.
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For the four year (2020-2023) assessment period where data is available, seaweed (macroalgae) was assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable for 5% of visits, with 79% of visits noting the presence of seaweed (macroalgae). The bathing water can have some seaweed on the beach, depending on tide and the weather.
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Wrongly connected domestic waste water pipes can also affect the water quality of the River Axe and Uphill Great Rhyne and therefore the bathing water. We have checked the local sewerage system for misconnections. We will continue to work with Wessex Water to identify and rectify any problems. 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. Phytoplankton increase in number at certain times of the year and this process is known as a phytoplankton bloom. These blooms can discolour the water or form as a foam on the water. TheEnvironment Agency research shows this bathing water does not have a history of phytoplankton blooms, however, a light brown foam sometimes appears at this beach which is due to the break down of macro algae. 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 40 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 Weston-super-Mare Uphill Slipway
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2024-09-30
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2024-05-01
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The River Axe flows into the sea at the southern end of the beach. There are also two small drains that flow into the sea near the River Axe. The Uphill Great Rhyne, controlled by a sluice gate, joins the River Axe approximately 500m before it reaches the sea. The Environment Agency has monitored the water quality of the Uphill Great Rhyne and the River Axe since 2007. During and after periods of heavy rainfall, agricultural and urban runoff to the River Axe and the Uphill Great Rhyne increases, impacting bathing water quality at Uphill Slipway.
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The outfall from Weston-super-Mare STW, discharges to the sea at Black Rock 540 metres (m) from the Environment Agency monitoring point. This discharge is disinfected and 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. At Weston-super-Mare Uphill Slipway for the four year (2020-2023) 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 74% of visits. Tarry residue was not noted at this site.
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There are more than 50 farms in the bathing water catchment. During and after periods of heavy rainfall, runoff from agricultural land is greatly increased, and the quality of the bathing water can be reduced. The Environment Agency are working with Natural England and farmers on Catchment Sensitive Farming programmes to encourage better farming practices and improve water quality in the surrounding areas.
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The Uphill Great Rhyne flows (mostly underground) through a large commercial estate which includes some light industry. If any concerns arise, the Environment Agency will investigate and request immediate remedial action from those responsible.
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There are caravan parks and houses that are not on the main sewerage system and have private sewage treatment arrangements. If any concerns arise, the Environment Agency will investigate and request immediate remedial action from those responsible.
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The catchment surrounding Weston-super-Mare Uphill Slipway is approximately 24,000 hectares, and includes the River Axe and its tributaries the Cheddar Yeo and Lox Yeo. These watercourses rise from limestone springs on the Mendip Hills at Wookey Hole Caves, and flow through the Somerset Levels and Moors to the sea in Weston Bay just north of Brean Down. The rivers are interconnected in several places by drainage channels (known locally as rhynes) controlled by sluices, forming a very complex artificial drainage system. The River Axe is also controlled by a sluice gate approximately 2.7km from the bathing water. The sluices affect the amount of freshwater entering the sea from the River Axe. The majority of the catchment is used for agriculture.
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Weston-super-Mare Uphill Slipway
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Weston-super-Mare Uphill Slipway
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Sampling point at Weston-super-Mare Uphill Slipway
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331092
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51.32470854613234
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-2.99031356730742
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158867
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Sampling point at Weston-super-Mare Uphill Slipway
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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 35700:1
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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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