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.
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.
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.
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).
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 (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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
