2024 Bathing Water Profile for Highcliffe
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Highcliffe is a popular resort beach on the east Dorset coast, looking out across Christchurch Bay with views of the Isle of Wight to the east. The shingle beach has numerous groynes and a moderate slope, flattening to shallow sandy flats that are exposed when the tide retreats. Behind the beach are cliffs and a shoreline promenade which provides access to the town and to the coast road at the top of the cliff.
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Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
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Dorset
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Very high results observed on 13 July 2009 were investigated. They were associated with very heavy rainfall which caused a large freshwater input into the bathing water.
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Prior to 1997 treated effluent from Barton on Sea Sewage Treatment Works was disinfected with hypochlorite during summer periods and discharged via an outfall 4 km from the bathing water sampling site. On rare occasions this might have affected bathing water quality. This discharge ceased prior to the 1997 bathing season when flows were diverted to Pennington Sewage Treatment Works to receive further treatment.
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Pollution from urban run-off is thought to occur in the Chewton Bunny stream which discharges into the bathing water.
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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 37% of visits. The shore 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.
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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 assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable, but was observed as being present on 2% of visits. 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 Highcliffe
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2024-09-30
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2024-05-01
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The Chewton Bunny stream, which receives urban run-off, inputs into the bathing water. Christchurch Harbour, which receives riverine and other inputs, inputs 5.5 km to the west. These sources may contribute to reduced bathing water quality after heavy rainfall.
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Pennington Sewage Treatment Works discharges further treated sewage 12 km from the bathing water and is designed to protect bathing water compliance. This discharge is scheduled to receive ultraviolet disinfection to protect nearby shellfish beds in the near future, which will provide further protection to the bathing water. Christchurch Harbour, which flows to sea 3.5 km west of the bathing water, receives further treated, ultraviolet disinfected effluent from several sewage treatment works as well as inputs from storm overflows. These discharges to Christchurch Harbour have been designed to have minimal impact on bathing water compliance.
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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 Highcliffe 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 2% of visits, with 58% of visits noting the presence of litter. Tarry residue was not noted at this site.
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The natural drainage (hydrological) catchment surrounding the bathing water is approximately 950 hectares and drains into the Chewton Bunny stream which discharges into the bathing water via an outfall 450 metres east of the sampling site. The top of the catchment is rural while the lower catchment is predominantly urban. The steep slopes in the catchment cause water to run off the land into the stream and into the bathing water very quickly.
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Highcliffe
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Highcliffe
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Sampling point at Highcliffe
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421374
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50.7369779306785
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-1.698471256684587
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93085
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Sampling point at Highcliffe
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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 17300:1
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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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