Newbiggin South Beach is a gently sloping resort beach at the southern end of Newbiggin
Bay. It is approx 750 metres in length and is backed by a promenade which runs around
the whole length of the bay.
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/
During 1992/1993 a long sea outfall was installed extending to approximately 1.3 kilometres
offshore. Flows from the short sea outfalls at Church Point and Summerhouse Lane were
diverted to the new long sea outfall which was designed to ensure bathing water compliance.
In 2000 to comply with the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive a new sewage treatment
works was built providing further treatment to the discharge.
The Environment Agency will be taking investigative samples during the 2022 bathing
water season to identify the source of pollution contributing to the high results
in recent years, and determine action required to prevent further deterioration.
For the four year (2020-2023) assessment period where data is available, seaweed (macroalgae)
was assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable for 5% of visits, with 91% 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 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.
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.
There are no outfalls discharging directly on to the bathing area. Sewage from the
Newbiggin and Ashington areas is treated at Newbiggin Sewage Treatment Works which
has a long sea outfall designed not to impact on the bathing beach.
Environment Agency samplers make observations of litter present on the beach at every
visit, this includes assessments of sewage debris, litter and tar. At Newbiggin South
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 86% of visits. Tarry residue was not noted at
this site.
The catchment directly behind the bathing water is urban with no natural surface waters
discharging on to the beach. The River Wansbeck, with a catchment covering approximately
340 square kilometres, enters the sea approximately two kilometres to the south of
the bathing water but appears not to influence bathing water quality here.
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.
