2022 Bathing Water Profile for Blyth South Beach
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Blyth South Beach is a gently sloping sandy resort beach at the southern end of the Northumberland coast. The designated bathing beach, which is backed by a promenade, is approximately one kilometre in length and is at the northern end of a four kilometre bay.
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Northumberland
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Northumberland
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There are no outfalls discharging directly to the bathing water. There are however two combined sewer overflows just to the north. The study to investigate the water company's assets showed that these outfalls do not have a significant impact on bathing water quality.
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Due to a predicted risk of failure the water company secured funding to investigate the impact of their network on this bathing water. The study identified cross connections to the watercourses that discharge through the outfall on the beach as the highest risk factor. A subsequent and ongoing joint program between Northumbrian Water and the Environment Agency has addressed this issue and bathing water quality has improved.
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2022 Bathing Water Profile for Blyth South Beach
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For the four year (2018-2021) assessment period where data is available, seaweed (macroalgae) was not assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable, but was observed as being present on 95% of visits. Environment Agency research suggests this bathing water does not have a history of large amounts of seaweed (macro algae).
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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 (2018-2021) 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. 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.
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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 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 2021 6 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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2022 Bathing Water Profile for Blyth South Beach
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2022-09-30
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2022-05-01
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Bathing water quality can be affected by South Newsham Burn and an unnamed burn which discharge from a large outfall to the beach, particularly after heavy rainfall.
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This bathing water is subject to short term pollution procedures. The Environment Agency makes a daily pollution risk forecast based on the effects of rain, tide, wind and seasonality. 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 short term pollution is likely a pollution risk warning is issued and a warning is displayed at this bathing water and online. After a pollution risk warning, levels of bacteria usually return to normal after a day or so, but it’s possible to have several warning days in a row. In 2021 6 pollution risk warnings were issued at this bathing water.
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The River Blyth has little influence on the quality of the bathing water. However, the two local streams which discharge through the outfall on the beach have been identified as a source of poor bathing water quality in the past. The water company study identified cross connections to the watercourse as the main contributor to improved water quality. A subsequent joint program between Northumbrian Water and the Environment Agency has addressed this issue and bathing water quality has improved.
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Sewage form the town of Blyth is treated at a sewage works at the head of the Blyth estuary and the discharge has no impact on the bathing beach. There is a small consented discharge from the building to the south of the beach into the culverted stream which outfalls in the centre of the bathing area.
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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 Blyth South Beach for the four year (2018-2021) 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 60% of visits. Tarry residue was not noted at this site.
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The natural drainage (hydrological) catchment surrounding the bathing water is approximately 350 square kilometres with the upper catchment (the River Blyth) being mainly rural changing to a more urban nature as you move east. More locally, there is a large outfall in the centre of the bathing beach, through which the Newsham South Burn and an unnamed burn in South Newsham housing estate discharge. This outfall also takes surface water from the housing estate.
