The Ribble at Edisford Bridge is a popular location for swimming, paddling and picnics,
located on the River Ribble at Clitheroe in Lancashire. When the river level is low,
a gently sloping shingle beach is exposed.
The Environment Agency works with the water companies, local authorities and others
to investigate any sources of contamination and to improve water quality at local
bathing waters.
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.
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.
Above the bathing water, the Ribble and its tributaries receive run off from both
urban and rural areas which may have the potential to reduce bathing water quality.
During or after periods of heavy rainfall the impact from these sources of pollution
can increase the risk of reduced 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.
Agriculture is a significant land use across the Ribble catchment. During and after
periods of heavy rainfall excess water may not soak into agricultural land causing
runoff into the streams and rivers. The quality of the bathing water may decline as
a result of such events.
Part of the Environment Agency's role is to work with farmers to reduce the effects
of farming on water quality. The Environment Agency provide advice to farmers on how
to comply with regulations and good practice on farms to ensure that pollution entering
watercourses is minimised.
Natural England deliver agri-environment schemes in the catchment providing advice
to farmers to enhance farming practices and reduce run off from farmland.
The Environment Agency continues to work with Ribble Rivers Trust to identify and
address issues from agricultural land management practises in the catchment.
The Ribble Catchment Partnership delivers a range of projects to improve the water
environment, including weir removal, river naturalisation and habitat creation.
There are a number of private discharges across the Ribble catchment from private
dwellings, hotels and campsites. The Environment Agency regulates these discharges
and where there is a risk to bathing water quality the Environment Agency will step
in to ensure improvements are made.
The River Ribble flows from Ribblehead, in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, to the
Irish sea near Preston in Lancashire. Significant urban areas include Blackburn, Burnley,
Clitheroe and Preston. Agriculture is a key land use within the catchment, with sheep
farming in the upper catchment and more intensive agriculture in the lower reaches.
The Ribble and its tributaries provide good habitat for iconic species such as salmon
and otters. The upper Ribblesdale area also supports significant populations of native
crayfish.
The Ribble Estuary is one of the largest in the UK and its wetlands are home to thousands
of overwintering migratory birds, which account for its designation as a Special Protection
Area.
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.
