Tynemouth Long Sands North Beach is a gently sloping sandy resort beach. The designated
bathing beach measures approximately 500 metres in length and is the northern end
of a one kilometre bay with the rocks near the centre marking the end of the designated
area. The beach has a road access at its northern end and a short promenade to the
headland that marks the northern end of the bay.
The overflow from North Point pumping station is designed to only discharge with a
storm intensity greater than 1 in 5 year return period. 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/
Crude sewage discharges in the Tynemouth Long Sands area were connected to the Tyneside
interceptor sewer in the early 1980's via pumping station at North Point. The combined
sewer overflow associated with this pumping station was reengineered in the early
1990s to discharge only with a storm intensity of 1 in 5 year return period. This
scheme was designed to improve water quality.
For the four year (2015-2018) assessment period where data is available, seaweed (macroalgae)
was not assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable, but was observed as being
present on 71% 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 (2015-2018) assessment period where data is available, phytoplankton
(microscopic algae) was not noted at this site. 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.
Environment Agency samplers make observations of litter present on the beach at every
visit, this includes assessments of sewage debris, litter and tar. At Tynemouth Long
Sands North for the four year (2015-2018) 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 20% 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.
