There is a disused storm overflow from The Square in the village of Allonby. This
discharge was abandoned in 1995 by United Utilities. There is also a disused outfall
storm overflow to the north of the Allonby bathing water; this discharge was abandoned
in 1992 by United Utilities.
The storm overflow from Maryport Pumping Station is located ten kilometres to the
south of Allonby bathing water. An improvement scheme for Maryport Pumping Station
designed to protect bathing water quality was completed in March 2012.
The storm overflow from Allonby Sewage Treatment Works discharges to Allonby Bay at
the same location as the treated discharge from the sewage treatment works. The storm
overflow from Allonby Sewage Treatment Works was improved in March 2016. Additional
treatment units were built to increase the capacity of the plant. Protecting bathing
water quality by reducing the number of storm discharges.
Under the programme of work for United Utilities (from 2015 to 2020) storm overflows
close to bathing waters have had equipment installed to monitor spills to the environment.
This will help to identify where bathing water improvements may be needed in the future.
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/
and via United Utilities website at http://www.unitedutilities.com/Bathing-Waters-Map.aspx.
Sea Change, a £500 million coastal clean-up project, was launched in 1994 by the Environment
Agency in conjunction with United Utilities. It’s aim was to improve the bathing water
quality in the North West. Through this a £30 million scheme to improve the sewerage
system in the Maryport area was established. The scheme eliminated a large crude discharge
at Maryport by passing flows south to Workington and constructed a new outfall at
Maryport for storm flows, as well as building a new sewage treatment works at Allonby.
The scheme also removed eight storm overflows as part of the overall Maryport sewerage
scheme.
Allerby, Edderside and Crosscanonby Sewage Treatment Works which discharge to Allonby
Bay were upgraded in 2005 by United Utilities to improve river water quality. The
upgrades will have improved bathing water quality.
The Environment Agency uses a DNA identification technique that helps to show whether
sources of pollution are human or animal. In 2009 this method was used at Allonby
bathing water. This has highlighted the impact from agriculture, as well as the presence
of dogs and birds on the beach, on the bathing water quality and is enabling us to
target actions.
In 2009 and 2010 the Environment Agency undertook investigations into caravan parks
and campsites located in the catchment to identify any sewage treatment systems that
were not working properly. This has resulted in a new system providing improved sewage
treatment and disinfection at a caravan park south of the bathing water. There is
further on-going work in the catchment to address other sites and the Environment
Agency is working with site owners to ensure that any improvements are completed as
soon as possible.
In 2011 the Environment Agency surveyed the catchment around Allonby to identify sources
of contamination. Where significant issues were found these have been investigated
and improvements made where needed.
In 2012 United Utilities, with the Environment Agency's support, developed a detailed
model of the Solway Estuary and the north Cumbrian coast to assess which inputs can
impact bathing water quality. The River Ellen and Allonby Sewage Treatment Works were
identified as the main impacts on bathing water quality.
To help improve bathing water quality we are working alongside Local Authorities through
a LOVEmyBEACH campaign. Further information can be found at http://lovemybeach.org/
For the four year (2020-2023) assessment period where data is available, seaweed (macroalgae)
was assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable for 1% of visits, with 54% of
visits noting the presence of seaweed (macroalgae). 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.
In 2015 United Utilities investigated, and where issues found taken action to resolve,
a misconnection close to Allonby bathing water under their improvement programme.
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. Phytoplankton (microscopic algae) naturally
increase in number at certain times of the year. This process is known as a phytoplankton
bloom. 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 18 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 Ellen which flows into the Allonby Bay to the south of the Allonby bathing
waters, as well as the Allonby Beck to the north of the bathing water, can be a source
of reduced water quality after heavy rainfall. Streams and rivers are typically affected
by farming activities within the catchment. During and after periods of heavy rainfall,
run off from agricultural areas will be greatly increased and will, at times, be a
source of poorer water quality than usual after heavy rainfall. There are also several
smaller streams entering Allonby Bay which could impact bathing water quality.
Allonby Sewage treatment Works discharges to Allonby Bay. The discharge from the sewage
treatment works is treated to a high standard. United Utilities upgraded the sewage
treatment works in 2003 to ensure the discharge receives disinfection to protect 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 Allonby for
the four year (2020-2023) assessment period where data is available, sewage debris
was not noted at this site. Litter was assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable
for 1% of visits, with 57% of visits noting the presence of litter. Tarry residue
was not assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable, but was observed as being
present on 1% of visits.
The River Ellen catchment lying behind the Allonby bathing waters is agricultural
with large areas of land used for livestock. During and following periods of heavy
rainfall, run off from agricultural areas will be greatly increased which could impact
bathing water quality at Allonby.
Catchment Sensitive Farming, delivered by Natural England in partnership with the
Environment Agency, delivers practical solutions and targeted support to enable farmers
and land managers to take voluntary action to reduce diffuse water pollution from
agriculture to protect water bodies and the environment. Actions include a programme
of educational events for farmers, advice to farmers and land managers, farm visits,
and surveys of the area to identify pollution risks.
In 2013 funding was given for a 'Catchment Wise' project in the River Ellen catchment.
The project was a partnership between the West Cumbria Rivers Trust, United Utilities
and Natural England’s Catchment Sensitive Farming Project to tackle agricultural diffuse
pollution in rivers and streams across the catchment. The project brought together
farmers, landowners and local communities to protect water quality by considering
grazing regimes, livestock housing, fencing, tree planting and advising on best practice
to prevent pollution. One of the aims of the project was to improve bathing water
quality in Allonby Bay.
The Sellafield nuclear site is located on the West Cumbrian coast just north of the
village of Seascale. The site which covers an area around four square kilometres is
bordered on the western edge by the coastline. The Environment Agency permits waste
disposal from the site, including discharges via a pipeline into the Irish Sea. The
Environment Agency monitors seawater, sediment and seaweed at beaches in West Cumbria
and publishes the results in an annual Radioactivity in Food and Environment Report
(https://www.gov.uk/monitoring-radioactivity). The reduction in aerial and liquid
discharges over the last three decades has been dramatic.
There are a number of caravan parks and camp sites which are not on the main sewerage
system and operate their own sewage treatment plants. Investigations in 2009 and 2010
identified those sites with inadequate sewage treatment systems, and several of these
have been improved. The Environment Agency has worked with site owners to ensure that
improvements to the remaining sites are carried out.
The area immediately surrounding Allonby bathing water is Allonby village. The surrounding
area is generally flat, rising to 50 metres above sea level, supporting mainly mixed
livestock agriculture.
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's 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.