2024 Bathing Water Profile for Christchurch Friar`s Cliff
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Christchurch Friars Cliff is in Christchurch Bay on the Dorset coast. The bay is approximately 13 kilometres wide from Hengitsbury Head to Hurst Castle. Friars Cliff is a sandy beach resort, approximately 850 metres wide, backed by a promenade and beach huts.
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Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
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Dorset
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Within the catchment there are storm, emergency and surface water outfalls that discharge to the Stour and Avon rivers. The operation of the overflows can lead to a drop in bathing water quality.
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Wessex Water made improvements in 1994 to reduce the frequency of emergency overflows from two combined sewer overflows (CSO) which discharge to the River Stour. Improvements to the treatment capacity and storm storage at Holdenhurst Sewage Treatment Works (STW) were also completed at that time. Ultraviolet (UV) disinfection was provided at Christchurch STW by May1998 and by April 2001, UV treatment and additional storm storage was installed at Holdenhurst STW. Improvements to emergency overflows from the pumping stations at Scots Hill Lane (Christchurch) and Iford were completed in 2002. The storm discharge from Christchurch STW was improved by April 2003, and the STWs at Wimborne, Kinson, and Palmersford received UV disinfection by the end of 2003. The CSO at Tuckton High Street was rebuilt and made larger by April 2004 and the storm discharge from Kinson STW was improved by April 2005.
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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 13% of visits, with 88% of visits noting the presence of seaweed (macroalgae). This bathing water does not have a history of large amounts of seaweed (macro algae).
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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 10% 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 Christchurch Friar`s Cliff
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2024-09-30
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2024-05-01
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Streams and rivers are typically affected by human sewage, animal slurry and runoff from roads. This bathing water is close to the mouth of the Rivers Stour and Avon which flow into Christchurch Harbour. The natural effects of wind and tide outside the harbour can mean that water quality at the beach is impacted by the quality of the rivers Stour and Avon. Long-term monitoring by the Environment Agency has shown that the rivers may affect water quality after periods of heavy rainfall.
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All the significant sewage treatment works in the lower catchment receive UV disinfection, and further up the catchment there are smaller, treated, continuous discharges. These discharges are 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 Christchurch Friar`s Cliff 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 5% of visits, with 80% of visits noting the presence of litter. Tarry residue was not noted at this site.
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The largely agricultural catchments of the rivers Stour and Hampshire Avon have significant areas of land used for livestock. 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 catchment surrounding Christchurch Friar`s Cliff is approximately 300,000 hectares and includes the Hampshire Avon and the River Stour. The Avon is approximately 95km long and rises in Wiltshire in the Vale of Pewsey. It then flows south across Salisbury Plain through Durrington, Amesbury and Salisbury where all the significant tributaries of the Avon come together, including the Nadder, Wylye, Bourne and Ebble. The upper Avon catchment includes the undulating, chalk downlands of Salisbury Plain, which are cut by steep combes and river valleys. The steep catchment means rain runs off rapidly into the river. To the south of Salisbury the Avon enters the rolling farmland of the Hampshire Basin, flowing along the western edge of the New Forest through Fordingbridge and Ringwood. The Avon meets the River Stour at Christchurch and flows into Christchurch Harbour and the English Channel at Mudeford. The River Stour is approximately 96km long and flows east from Stourhead in Wiltshire through the Blackmore Vale and the towns of Gillingham and Sturminster Newton, where it is joined by the River Lydden. The river breaks through the chalk ridge of the Dorset Downs at Blandford Forum, and flows southeast into the heathlands of south east Dorset. At Wimborne Minster it is joined by the River Allen, and meets the River Avon at Christchurch. Outside the urban areas of Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch, the catchment is mainly agricultural with more than 50 farms.
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Christchurch Friar`s Cliff
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Christchurch Friar`s Cliff
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Sampling point at Christchurch Friar`s Cliff
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419194
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50.73204459027096
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-1.729392227367008
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92528
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Sampling point at Christchurch Friar`s Cliff
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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 18750:1
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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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