2024 Bathing Water Profile for Bournemouth Boscombe Pier

http://environment.data.gov.uk/data/bathing-water-profile/ukk2101-19060/2024:1

  • bathing water description
    Bournemouth Boscombe Pier forms part of the 15 kilometre coastline of Poole Bay on the Dorset coast. It is a sandy beach resort, approximately one kilometre wide, backed by the promenade. It also has a pier, restaurants, and an artificial surf reef.
  • controller name
    Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
  • county name
    Dorset
  • eso outfalls statement
    There is an overflow to sea from the Boscombe No.1 pumping station approx. 600m South of the Environment Agency monitoring point. The operation of the overflow can lead to a drop in bathing water quality. 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/
  • history statement
    In the past the main water company assets affecting this bathing water were from four storm overflows from the tunnel sewer along Bournemouth seafront. These overflows were Hengistbury Head, Bournemouth No 1, Boscombe Pier and Fisherman's Walk. Improvements were made to Fisherman's Walk by Wessex Water in 1993. Hengistbury Head pumping station (PS) and combined sewer overflow (CSO), and Boscombe Pier CSO were improved in early 1999. Bournemouth No.1 PS and CSO were improved in June 1999. Improvements to the treatment capacity and storm storage at Holdenhurst Sewage Treatment Works (STW) were completed in 1994. Ultraviolet (UV) disinfection and additional storm storage was installed at Holdenhurst STW by April 2001. Wrongly connected domestic waste water pipes can also affect the bathing water quality. A significant amount of work was carried out by Wessex Water in the late 1990s to correct misconnections to the surface water discharge to the west of Boscombe Pier.
  • local authority statement
    There is a surface water outfall at SZ1089391064, that discharges to the sea 250m west of Boscombe Pier.
  • macro algae statement
    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 69% of visits. This bathing water does not have a history of large amounts of seaweed (macro algae).
  • phytoplankton statement
    For the four year (2020-2023) assessment period where data is available, phytoplankton (microscopic algae) was assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable for 2% of visits, with 3% of visits noting the presence of phytoplankton (microscopic algae). Phytoplankton (microscopic algae) naturally increase in number at certain times of the year. This process is known as a phytoplankton bloom. This bathing water does not have a history of phytoplankton blooms. 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.
  • pollution risk forecast statement
    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, 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 10 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.
  • pollution risk forecasting
    true
  • pref label
    2024 Bathing Water Profile for Bournemouth Boscombe Pier
  • sampling frequency
    20
  • season finish date
    2024-09-30
  • season start date
    2024-05-01
  • stw outfalls statement
    Sewage from the Bournemouth area is pumped to Holdenhurst (Bournemouth) STW. The outfall from Holdenhurst STW discharges to the River Stour, north of Bournemouth. This discharge is disinfected and designed to protect bathing water quality.
  • version string
    1
  • visible pollution statement
    Environment Agency samplers make observations of litter present on the beach at every visit, this includes assessments of sewage debris, litter and tar. At Bournemouth Boscombe Pier 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 11% of visits, with 82% of visits noting the presence of litter. Tarry residue was not noted at this site.
  • zoi description
    The catchment surrounding Bournemouth Boscombe Pier is approximately 260 hectares. There are no streams which drain directly to this beach and land use is urban.
  • bathing water

    Bournemouth Boscombe Pier

  • local authority
    Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
  • measurement type
  • season interval

    p152 dT23 h59 m59 s

  • source
    row=0207
  • standard language collection

    2024 19060:1

    • algae general statement
      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.
    • eso outfalls general statement
      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.
    • local authority general statement
      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.
    • pollution management general statement
      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.
    • stw outfalls general statement
      Discharges from sewage treatment works have improved substantially in England since the 1980s.
  • web res image
    ukk2101 19060 1 webres.jpg

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