Saltburn beach is a gently-sloping sandy resort beach backed by cliffs. Its principal
feature is the Victorian pier. Access to the beach from the higher parts of the town
can be gained via the Victorian water-balanced cliff lift.
There are a number of combined sewer overflows (CSO) close to this bathing water,
discharging via Skelton Beck and Pit Hills Stell. These were improved in the early
1990s and designed to minimise their impact on bathing waters. Significant impacts
should now occur only after unusually heavy rainfall.
Following an investigation into the apparent deterioration in bathing water quality,
the report completed in 2012 identified that improvements were required at CSOs in
Guisborough and Skelton. A scheme was completed before the 2016 bathing season to
provide additional storm storage and reduce storm sewage discharging to Skelton Beck.
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/
Sewage from Saltburn, Skelton and Brotton used to discharge via a sea outfall which
ran across rocks close to the eastern end of this beach. In the early 1990s, an interceptor
sewer was built to take this to a new long sea outfall at Marske, designed to minimise
the impact on local bathing waters, including Saltburn. As part of this scheme, the
sewage treatment works at Guisborough was abandoned and flows from there were also
diverted to the Marske long sea outfall.
In 2000, a new sewage treatment works was built at Marske. As well as conventional
treatment, the discharge from this is disinfected using ultraviolet light.
The Environment Agency, in collaboration with Northumbrian Water and Redcar & Cleveland
Council, investigated the cause of an apparent deterioration in bathing water quality
in 2009. A number of sources were identified and addressed. The water company's investigation
of their sewerage system identified where improvements were required and a scheme
to address these was constructed which came into operation in 2016.
For the four year (2020-2023) assessment period where data is available, seaweed (macroalgae)
was assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable for 6% of visits, with 51% 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 (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 2% 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 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 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.
Both Skelton Beck and Pit Hills Stell drain agricultural areas and carry a number
of consented discharges and can temporarily impair bathing water quality after heavy
rainfall.
Improvement works were carried out in 2015/2016 when the Dunsdale sewage treatment
works was decommissioned and flows diverted to Marske.
The location of the outfall from Marske sewage treatment works and the level of treatment
mean that this discharge has no significant impact on bathing 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 Saltburn 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 35% of visits. Tarry residue was not noted at
this site.
Our investigations have included a programme of visits to farms to identify pollution
risks. Our visits and a record of pollution incidents in the catchment indicate that
the main risks are the management of livestock and the associated manures and slurries.
We will work with the farmers to highlight and address these risks so as to minimise
the risk to bathing water quality.
Although most of the catchment is served by public sewers, there are a number of small
privately-owned discharges. The Environment Agency's investigations lead us to believe
that these do not have a significantly adverse effect on bathing water quality but
they have not been excluded from continued scrutiny.
Skelton Beck enters the sea approximately 200 metres east of the pier. Its catchment
is predominantly agricultural but it includes the town of Guisborough and the villages
of Skelton and Brotton as well as some smaller settlements. Another smaller stream,
Pit Hills Stell, enters about 400 metres to the west of the pier.
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.