2024 Bathing Water Profile for West Bay (West)
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West Bay (West) is next to Bridport Harbour in Lyme Bay on the Dorset coast. It is a pebble, shingle and sand beach resort, approximately 820 metres wide, backed by cliffs.
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Dorset
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Dorset
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There is an emergency/storm overflow from the West Bay Sluices pumping station, that discharges to Bridport Harbour, 690m from the Environment Agency monitoring point. The operation of this overflow can lead to a drop in water quality at the bathing water. 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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Bridport sewage treatment works (STW) was upgraded from preliminary to secondary treatment by Wessex Water in 2000. Storm storage was provided at Bridport STW by the end of December 2002.
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Surface water can flow into the River Brit from urban areas, and highway drains. This can affect river 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 65% of visits. 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 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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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 5 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 West Bay (West)
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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. The River Brit enters the sea at Bridport Harbour, and can affect water quality after heavy rainfall.
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Sewage from West Bay and Bridport is treated at Bridport STW and discharges to the sea 950m from the Environment Agency monitoring point. The discharge is designed to protect 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 West Bay (West) 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 84% of visits. Tarry residue was not noted at this site.
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During and after periods of heavy rainfall, runoff to the River Brit from agricultural areas is greatly increased, and the quality of the bathing water may be adversely affected.
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The catchment surrounding West Bay (West) is approximately 11,600 hectares. The River Brit is approximately 14 kilometres long and rises in the hills north of Beaminster. It flows south to Bradpole and Bridport where it is joined by the River Simene and the River Asker. South of Bridport, the Brit flows to the sea at West Bay where it enters the harbour over several electrically operated hatches. These hatches are open in winter, and also when the harbour is being ‘scoured' at low tide. The steep catchment means rain runs off rapidly into the river.
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West Bay (West)
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West Bay (West)
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Sampling point at West Bay (West)
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345974
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50.710968643628284
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-2.766537776781116
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90430
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Sampling point at West Bay (West)
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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 21000:1
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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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