Formby bathing water is a large, sandy beach with extensive sand dunes between the
beach and Formby town. There are multiple access points to the beach via boardwalks
across the dunes. The beach has a shallow profile that increasingly drops off towards
the sea.
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.
United Utilities has upgraded many of its sewage treatment works and storm overflows
leading to significant water quality improvements. The sites upgraded close to Formby
are Liverpool Sewage Treatment Works in 1999, Bromborough Sewage Treatment Works in
2000 and Birkenhead Sewage Treatment Works in 2001.
A major sewer interceptor scheme known as the Mersey Estuary Pollution Alleviation
Scheme (MEPAS) was completed by United Utilities in 2000 to catch sewage discharges
and reduce storm overflows to the Mersey. The scheme transfers sewage to Liverpool
Sewage Treatment Works. This has improved the water quality in the River Mersey and
has protected bathing water quality at Formby.
In the late 1990s Formby bathing water suffered from occasional reductions in bathing
water quality. Detailed studies found no local issues that were causing the decline
in quality.
The Environment Agency has contributed to the Mersey Basin Campaign, a 25-year government-backed
community initiative to improve environmental quality in the Mersey catchment area.
Past and future improvements will help protect the bathing water quality at Formby.
In 2012 the Environment Agency surveyed surface water drains in this area to identify
any sources of contamination. No contaminated surface waters were found.
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 three year (2021-2023) assessment period where data is available, seaweed
(macroalgae) was not assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable, but was observed
as being present on 95% 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.
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
For the three year (2021-2023) 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 5% of visits. This bathing water can be affected
by occasional blooms ofPhytoplankton (microscopic algae) which are not harmful, but
can result in the water appearing discoloured or a foam forming on the water.
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.
Formby bathing water is around five kilometres north of the mouth of the River Alt.
The River Alt enters the Crosby Channel (Irish Sea) and, depending on weather conditions,
can reach Formby bathing water. Short-term declines in bathing water quality at Formby
have been linked to reduced water quality in the River Alt.
Formby bathing water is located midway between the large estuaries of the River Mersey
to the south and the River Ribble to the north which both drain large inland catchments.
The Mersey catchment is heavily built up around the cities of Liverpool and Manchester,
whilst the Ribble catchment is built up around Preston. There is a limited impact
on the bathing water quality at Formby from these estuaries.
Formby Sewage Treatment Works located on the River Alt was upgraded by United Utilities
in 2012. The improvements were designed to improve river water quality in the River
Alt which can, under certain weather conditions, impact on Formby 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 Formby for the
three year (2021-2023) assessment period where data is available, sewage debris was
not assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable, but was observed as being present
on 3% of visits. Litter was assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable for 2%
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 2% of visits.
The Sefton coastline stretches for approximately twenty kilometres from Southport
in the north to Formby in the south. The wider catchment area around Formby is green
belt land and is used for arable farming. The streams in this area drain into the
River Alt which enters the Irish Sea around five kilometres south of the bathing water.
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.
