2024 Bathing Water Profile for Poole Branksome Chine
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Poole Branksome Chine forms part of the 15 kilometre coastline of Poole Bay on the Dorset coast. It is a sandy beach resort, approximately 1.2km wide, backed by a promenade and cliffs.
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Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
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Dorset
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There is an emergency/storm overflow from the Branksome Chine pumping station, that discharges to the sea 450m from 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/
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The Wessex Water sewage treatment scheme for Poole has provided secondary treatment from 1995, and ultraviolet disinfection from early 2003. The outfall pipe from Branksome Chine pumping station was rebuilt in 2008.
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The urban area immediately behind the beach is served by a combined (surface and sewer) system. There are no outfalls from the system onto the beach. Surface water can flow into the Branksome Chine Stream from urban areas and highway drains. This can affect stream water quality, particularly after periods of rainfall.
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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 64% of visits. This bathing water does not have a history of large amounts of seaweed (macro algae).
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Wrongly connected domestic waste water pipes can also affect the stream water quality. We have checked the local sewerage system for misconnections. We are working 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 assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable, but was observed as being present on 3% of visits. 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.
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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 Poole Branksome Chine
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2024-09-30
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2024-05-01
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Sewage from the Poole area is pumped to Poole STW. The outfall from Poole STW discharges to Holes Bay in Poole Harbour. 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 Poole Branksome Chine 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 15% of visits, with 76% of visits noting the presence of litter. Tarry residue was not noted at this site.
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The catchment surrounding Poole Branksome Chine is approximately 400 hectares. The Branksome Chine Stream is approximately 10km long and flows to the beach where it enters the sea through a 50 metre (m) outfall pipe buried beneath the sand.
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Poole Branksome Chine
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Poole Branksome Chine
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Sampling point at Poole Branksome Chine
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406455
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50.70589220936583
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-1.909943393969187
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89589
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Sampling point at Poole Branksome Chine
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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 19170:1
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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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