Silecroft bathing water is a remote, steeply sloping, pebbly beach levelling out to
flat sand closer to the sea. At high water the sand is completely covered.
During 2011 a first time sewerage scheme was completed by United Utilities in the
village of Silecroft providing a foul sewerage network for the properties. This should
improve the quality of the Silecroft Beck and the bathing water quality at Haverigg
to the south of Silecroft, as well as bathing water quality at Silecroft itself.
The bathing water quality at Silecroft is good as a result of its isolated location
on the West Cumbrian coast. Survey work carried out by the Environment Agency has
shown that discharges from overflows on Walney Island can reach Silecroft bathing
water. However, the impact on water quality is minimal due to the large distance from
Walney Island to Silecroft and the time taken for any discharges to reach the bathing
water. Flows from the River Annas and Ravenglass harbour, both located to the north
of Silecroft, can reach the bathing water under certain weather conditions but the
impact on bathing water quality is minimal.
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 not assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable, but was observed as being
present on 64% of visits. 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 noted at this site. 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.
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 is a small stream flowing across the beach at its northern end. The quality
of this stream is good and there are no known impacts on the bathing water.
Environment Agency samplers make observations of litter present on the beach at every
visit, this includes assessments of sewage debris, litter and tar. At Silecroft 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 44% of visits. Tarry residue was not noted at
this site.
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.
To the southern end of the bathing water there is a discharge to ground waters from
a privately owned property. A short distance inland is a sewage treatment works serving
a holiday park. This provides a high level of treatment including disinfection to
protect bathing water quality. The Environment Agency regulates both discharges and
there are no known impacts on bathing water quality.
The beach is on the South West Cumbrian coast in a rural area dominated by livestock
farming. Silecroft village, lying a short distance inland from the bathing water,
is very small and sits within the Lake District National Park boundary. Most streams
higher in the catchment flow into the River Duddon and there are some smaller, more
local streams which flow across the beach to the sea.
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.