Redcar Lifeboat Station is one of four designated bathing beaches fronting the resort
of Redcar. It is a gently-sloping sandy beach between Coatham Rocks and Redcar Rocks.
There are a number of combined sewer overflows (CSO) close to this bathing water.
These were the subject of an improvement scheme in 2006 designed to minimise their
impact on bathing waters. Discharges from those remaining will now occur only after
unusually heavy rainfall. 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/
In the early 1990s, an interceptor sewer was built to take sewage from the Redcar
area to a new long sea outfall at Marske. In 2000, new sewage treatment works were
built at Bran Sands, Seaton Carew and Marske. As well as conventional treatment, all
these discharges are disinfected using ultraviolet light. The location of the outfalls
and the level of treatment mean that these discharges now have no perceptible impact
on bathing water quality.
For the four year (2015-2018) assessment period where data is available, seaweed (macroalgae)
was assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable for 8% of visits, with 58% of
visits noting the presence of seaweed (macroalgae). Environment Agency research suggests
this bathing water does not have a history of large amounts of seaweed (macro algae).
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.
For the four year (2015-2018) 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 1% of visits. Environment Agency research suggests
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.
This bathing water is subject to short term pollution. Short term pollution is caused
when heavy rainfall or high tides wash faecal material into the sea from livestock,
sewage and urban drainage via rivers and streams. At this site the risk of encountering
reduced water quality increases after rainfall and typically returns to normal after
1-3 days. The Environment Agency makes daily pollution risk forecasts based on rainfall
and tidal patterns and will issue a pollution risk warning if high tides or heavy
rainfall occurs to enable bathers to avoid periods of increased risk.
The Environment Agency works to reduce the sources of this pollution through pollution
prevention measures, work with agriculture and water companies.
3 warnings advising against swimming due to an increase risk of short term pollution
were issued in 2018 for Redcar Lifeboat Station bathing water. These warnings were
issued because of the effects of heavy rain on the water quality.
Environment Agency samplers make observations of litter present on the beach at every
visit, this includes assessments of sewage debris, litter and tar. At Redcar Lifeboat
Station for the four year (2015-2018) assessment period where data is available, sewage
debris was not assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable, but was observed
as being present on 1% of visits. Litter was not assessed as being sufficient to be
objectionable, but was observed as being present on 23% of visits. Tarry residue was
not noted at this site.
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.
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.
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.
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.