In 2003 United Utilities improved the discharge from West Silloth Pumping Station
by adding screens to the treatment process.
Under the programme of work for United Utilities (from 2015 to 2020) all storm overflows
close to bathing waters will have equipment installed to monitor spills to the environment.
This will help to identify where bathing water improvements may be needed in the future.
In 1994 the Environment Agency launched Sea Change, a £500 million coastal clean-up
project, in conjunction with United Utilities. This aims 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 completed. This eliminated the crude discharge and
built a new outfall for storm flows, as well as building a new sewage treatment works
at Allonby. Both these discharges lie to the south of Silloth bathing water.
Silloth Sewage Treatment Works discharges to the north of Silloth bathing water. In
1995 storm water storage was provided at the sewage treatment works which allowed
the closure of storm overflows in Silloth town. The discharge from the sewage treatment
works has received disinfection since 1995. In 2003 United Utilities upgraded the
disinfection treatment to protect bathing water quality. A survey in 2003 confirmed
the storm treatment at the sewage treatment works protected bathing water quality.
Allonby Sewage Treatment Works discharges to the sea to the south of the bathing water.
The discharge from the sewage treatment works is treated to a high standard and in
2003 United Utilities upgraded the treatment to ensure the discharge receives disinfection
to protect 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 Silloth
bathing water. It has highlighted the impact that agriculture, as well as the presence
of dogs and birds on the beach, has on the bathing water quality and is enabling us
to target actions.
In 2011 the Environment Agency surveyed the catchment around Allonby South 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 Waver and the Raby Cote outfall to the north
of the bathing water were identified as the main impacts on bathing water quality.
This information has been used to inform the United Utilities investment programme
from 2015 to 2020.
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/
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 Silloth bathing water under their improvement programme.
There is a suspected misconnection being investigated under United Utilities proposed
improvement programme by the end of 2015. The improvement of any misconnected properties
found will help improve bathing water quality
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.
This bathing water is subject to short term pollution. Short term pollution is caused
when heavy rainfall washes faecal material into the sea from livestock, sewage and
urban drainage via rivers and streams. At this site the risk of encountering reduced
water quality increases after rainfall and typically returns to normal after 1-3 days.
The Environment Agency makes daily pollution risk forecasts based on rainfall patterns
and will issue a pollution risk warning if heavy rainfall occurs to enable bathers
to avoid periods of increased risk.
The Environment Agency works to reduce the sources of this pollution through pollution
prevention measures, work with agriculture and water companies.
10 warnings advising against swimming due to an increase risk of short term pollution
were issued in 2016 for Silloth bathing water. These warnings were issued because
of the effects of heavy rain on the water quality.
Two main rivers, the Waver and Wampool, drain the catchment and enter the Solway Firth
to the north of the bathing water. The extent of the agricultural land use both on
the coast and within the two river catchments means that during and after periods
of heavy rainfall runoff from these agricultural areas will be greatly increased.
This can be a source of reduced water quality. The bathing water is located on the
southern side of the Solway Firth. The rivers and streams draining into the Solway
Firth could impact on bathing water quality.
Silloth Sewage Treatment Works discharges to the north of Silloth. The discharge from
the sewage treatment works is treated to a high standard.
As part of United Utilities' improvement programme from 2015 to 2020 the Raby Cote
outfall to the north of the bathing water will be improved 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 Silloth for
the four year (2013-2016) assessment period where data is available, sewage debris
was not assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable, but was observed as being
present on 2% of visits. Litter was assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable
for 4% of visits, with 80% of visits noting the presence of litter. Tarry residue
was not noted at this site.
The land around Silloth contains large areas of agricultural land. Grazing on the
Moricambe Bay salt marshes can impact Silloth bathing water. During and after periods
of heavy rainfall excess water may not soak into agricultural land causing runoff
into rivers and the sea. High spring tides can cover the salt marsh and cause wash
off from the land. The quality of the bathing water may decline as a result of such
events.
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. A project is currently underway
within the River Ellen catchment focusing on reducing the bathing water quality impact
from farms.
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.
In 2009 the Environment Agency contacted three caravan parks close to Silloth bathing
water to ensure that the sewage from the sites was being treated correctly. All sites
confirmed that they were connected to the main water company sewer.
The discharge from a private property close to the bathing water has been upgraded
to improve the treatment of the sewage discharge. This improvement will help protect
bathing water quality.
In the past there was a discharge from a settlement tank serving the abattoir near
the docks in Silloth. This discharge point has been disused since the early 1990s
and there is no impact on the bathing water from this point.
Silloth is situated on the southern shore of the Solway Firth alongside the town of
Silloth. The catchment around Silloth is flat, open and largely agricultural with
raised beaches, mudflats and salt marshes.
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.