2024 Bathing Water Profile for Lyme Regis Front Beach
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Lyme Regis Front Beach is to the west of Lyme Regis on the south coast of Dorset. The Cobb is a curved breakwater that shelters Lyme Regis Harbour. The beach is a sandy resort, approximately 760 metres wide, close to the town.
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Dorset
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Dorset
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Investigations by the Environment Agency have shown that at times bathing water quality can be impacted by a short surface water outfall at the beach. The Environment Agency are working with South West Water to carry out a review of sewerage performance within the area. Following these investigations the Environment Agency will make recommendations for additional improvements to protect and improve the bathing water quality if necessary.
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The storm/emergency overflow from the Cobb pumping station, is just to the south of the Cobb breakwater. The operation of the overflow can lead to a drop in bathing water quality.
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In the past the bathing water was affected by untreated discharges to the River Lim and from a short untreated outfall at the Cobb. The scheme for sewage treatment at Lyme Regis was completed by South West Water in early 1995. Sewage is treated to a secondary standard with ultraviolet (UV) disinfection at Lyme Regis (Uplyme) sewage treatment works (STW), and discharged through a 600m outfall to the sea. Extensive sewerage improvements were also carried out at that time. Several combined sewer overflows (CSO) to the River Lim were removed in 2001. To improve bathing water quality at Lyme Regis, South West Water constructed an 86 cubic metre storm storage tank at Uplyme Sewage Treatment Works to reduce the number of storm discharges during extremely wet weather. This work was completed in March 2015.
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The urban area of Lyme Regis immediately behind the beach is served by a combined (surface and sewer) system. In 2006 the local authority built an outfall which drains surface water from the surrounding area and discharges next to the Environment Agency monitoring point. Environment Agency investigations have shown that this outfall is vulnerable to contamination with sewage. The Environment Agency have been working with the local authority to rectify this problem.
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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 3% of visits, with 65% 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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Wrongly connected domestic waste water pipes can also affect the bathing water quality. We have checked the local sewerage system for misconnections. We are working with the local authority and South West 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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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, tide, wind, sunlight 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 7 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 Lyme Regis Front Beach
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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 Lim enters the sea 400m to the East of the bathing water. Environment Agency monitoring of the River Lim found that water quality is worse after heavy rainfall.
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The Lyme Regis (Uplyme) STW outfall discharges 600m from the shore of this bathing water. The 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 Lyme Regis Front Beach 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 10% of visits, with 78% of visits noting the presence of litter. Tarry residue was not noted at this site.
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The catchment surrounding Lyme Regis Front Beach is approximately 1800 hectares. Lyme Regis extends approximately two kilometres (km) inland to Uplyme. Both the upper and lower reaches of the River Lim are in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Land use is mostly agricultural, with more than 50 farms. The River Lim passes through Lyme Regis for approximately 1 km before entering the sea 400m East of Front Beach.
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Lyme Regis Front Beach
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Lyme Regis Front Beach
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Sampling point at Lyme Regis Front Beach
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333900
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50.72248583256525
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-2.937779284373491
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91850
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Sampling point at Lyme Regis Front Beach
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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 21500:1
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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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