2024 Bathing Water Profile for Ringstead Bay
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Ringstead Bay is on the Dorset coast and is part of the Purbeck Heritage Coast. It is a remote shingle beach, approximately one kilometre wide, backed by high cliffs.
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Dorset
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Dorset
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There is a storm overflow from the Ringstead STW, which discharges to the Ringstead Stream 280m from the beach. 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 village of Ringstead was originally unsewered with local homes discharging to the stream. The first time rural sewerage scheme for Ringstead, which provides secondary treatment and ultraviolet disinfection, was completed by Wessex Water in 2005.
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Surface water can flow into the Ringstead Stream from 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 assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable for 3% of visits, with 87% 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 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 Ringstead Bay
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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 Ringstead Stream flows onto the beach. Monitoring by the Environment Agency has shown that the quality of this stream can be worse during or following heavy rainfall.
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The outfall from Ringstead sewage treatment works discharges to the Ringstead Stream 280m from the beach. 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 Ringstead Bay 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 85% of visits. Tarry residue was not noted at this site.
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During and after periods of heavy rainfall, runoff from agricultural areas is greatly increased, and the quality of the bathing water may be adversely affected.
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The rural catchment surrounding Ringstead Bay is approximately 230 hectares. Two small streams meet above Ringstead Village to form Ringstead Stream which flows south to the beach. The western tributary is wooded and the eastern tributary flows through grassland.
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Ringstead Bay
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Ringstead Bay
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Sampling point at Ringstead Bay
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375246
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50.63103636510807
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-2.351353705935561
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81320
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Sampling point at Ringstead Bay
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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 20300:1
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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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