Southport is a sandy beach located at the northern end of the Sefton coastline. It
has a very shallow gradient with large areas of sand exposed throughout the tidal
cycle. Only at very high water is the beach completely covered by the sea up to the
sea wall. There is a promenade above the beach and a pier to the north of the bathing
water.
There is a disused outfall south of the pier. There is no impact on bathing water
quality from this outfall.
To the north of Southport bathing water there are number of storm, emergency and surface
water outfalls that discharge to the River Ribble and its estuary. Sewer overflows
operating during, and following, periods of heavy rain can result in reduced bathing
water quality at Southport. In 2013 a significant programme of improvements to these
overflows was completed by United Utilities to protect bathing water quality. The
programme included the construction of a large storage tunnel (40,790 m3) to the south
of the River Ribble to store storm flows as well as a number of other individual schemes
to improve storm and emergency overflows.
As part of the improvement programme of work for United Utilities (from 2015 to 2021)
the storm overflows from Chorley, Blackburn and Preston Sewage Treatment Works have
been improved to protect bathing water quality. The programme also requires that
storm overflows close to bathing waters have 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.
Whilst there are no water company assets within the bathing water area there are a
number located on the River Ribble and its estuary which can, after heavy rainfall,
impact on Southport’s bathing water quality. The Environment Agency has worked closely
with United Utilities since the early 1990s to improve the sewerage infrastructure
around Southport.
Investigations in the early 1990s showed that the biggest impact on Southport bathing
water quality was four storm overflows discharging untreated sewage onto the foreshore
which were subsequently removed. In 1994 Sea Change, a £500 million coastal clean-up,
was launched by the Environment Agency in conjunction with United Utilities, to improve
the bathing water quality in the North West. Under this programme United Utilities
upgraded Preston Sewage Treatment Works and built a new sewage treatment works at
Southport. Further improvements at Southport Sewage Treatment Works were made by United
Utilities in 2001 and 2002 to improve storm discharges and the disinfection treatment,
and in 2008 were built upon further when the storm sewage provisions were upgraded
to protect bathing water quality.
Within the Ribble Estuary, the Hesketh Bank and Preston Sewage Treatment Works were
upgraded in 1999 to ensure the discharges are treated and disinfected to protect bathing
water quality. Upgrades to Wigan and Skelmersdale Sewage Treatment Works, located
on the inland River Ribble catchment, have also been completed by United Utilities.
Wigan Sewage Treatment Works was further improved in 2008 by United Utilities to provide
additional storage to protect bathing water quality.
The Weld Road storm overflow located to the south of Southport was improved by United
Utilities in 2003 improving bathing water quality.
Since 1997 the Environment Agency has studied the Ribble Estuary to identify potential
impacts on the bathing waters at the mouth of the estuary including Southport. A computer
model has been developed to predict the impact of pollution sources, including water
company discharges, on bathing water quality.
The Environment Agency can use a DNA identification technique to help show whether
sources of pollution are of human or animal origin. In 2009 and 2010 this method was
used at Southport which confirmed the need to investigate and address local outfalls
as well as discharges into the Ribble Estuary.
In 2011 the Environment Agency surveyed the catchment around Southport to identify
sources of contamination. Where significant issues were found these have been investigated
and improvements required where needed.
The Environment Agency contributed to a 4 year research project - Cloud 2 Coast -
between 2011 and 2015 delivered by the Universities of Sheffield, Cardiff and Aberystwyth.
The project developed river and coastal models of the Ribble catchment to understand
the catchment sources which could impact bathing water quality. The project looked
at options for managing these sources to improve 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 not assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable, but was observed as being
present on 87% 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.
In 2012 the Environment Agency carried out a misconnection campaign on a large surface
water drainage catchment which discharges through an outfall close to Southport bathing
water. Where misconnections were found property owners were asked to take action
to correct the wrong connection in conjunction with Sefton Borough Council. United
Utilities surveyed a large catchment immediately to the south of the bathing water
during 2014 and 2015. Where misconnections were found United Utilities has worked
with property owners to resolve them.
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 1% of visits. This bathing water can be affected
by occasional blooms of Phytoplankton (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.
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, tide, wind, sunlight 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 17 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.
A step change improvement in bathing water quality at Southport was identified from
5th May 2014 due to improvements made to United Utilities assets within the Ribble
catchment. Bathing water quality monitoring samples collected prior to this date are
not used for classification.
There are a number of sewage treatment works, including Southport and Preston, which
can impact Southport bathing water quality. However, they all have disinfection provided
ensuring bathing water quality is protected.
In 2012 United Utilities upgraded Blackburn Sewage Treatment Works providing disinfection
to deliver bathing water improvements.
Environment Agency samplers make observations of litter present on the beach at every
visit, this includes assessments of sewage debris, litter and tar. At Southport for
the four year (2020-2023) assessment period where data is available, sewage debris
was not assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable, but was observed as being
present on 1% of visits. Litter was assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable
for 1% of visits, with 80% of visits noting the presence of litter. Tarry residue
was not noted at this site.
The River Ribble catchment contains significant areas of farmland both around the
estuary and further inland. Grazing on the Ribble Estuary salt marshes can impact
Southport bathing water. During and after periods of heavy rainfall excess water may
not soak into agricultural land causing run off 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, which is 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. Catchment Sensitive
Farming, an advice-led project, delivering targeted advice to reduce water pollution
is underway within the River Ribble catchment. It enables farmers and land managers
to take action to reduce the impact from farms on water quality.
The Sefton coastline stretches for approximately 20 kilometres from Southport in the
north to Formby in the south. The town of Southport lies behind the bathing water
with mainly arable farming further inland. Immediately to the north of Southport the
River Ribble flows out to the Irish Sea through the Ribble Estuary.
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.
