Fraisthorpe Beach is a rural sandy beach situated on the east Yorkshire coast to the
south of the resort of Bridlington. It is one kilometre in length with a gentle slope.
At low tide a large area of the beach is exposed and the water's edge can be some
distance away.
Bathing water quality may sometimes be affected by storm, emergency and surface water
outfalls. Storm overflows may operate during and following periods of heavy rainfall
when the sewer system can become overwhelmed by the amount of surface water entering
it. The overflows prevent sewage from backing up pipes and flooding properties.
There are no storm overflows discharging directly into the bathing water but there
are two storm overflows in the Fraisthorpe catchment. These are downstream of the
industrial estate and discharge into Earls Dyke and Auburn beck respectively. There
are also several storm overflows to the north in Bridlington South Bay. These include
one emergency short sea outfall and a long-sea storm outfall that discharge into the
North Sea.
Yorkshire Water completed improvement schemes at Bridlington and Fraisthorpe to improve
bathing water quality in 2014. When these overflows operate, they discharge diluted
and screened effluent into the sea and the stream. While the operation of these outfalls
can still result in a decline in the bathing water quality, the impacts are likely
to be much less than previous years.
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.
Environment Agency investigations indicate that the watercourses downstream of an
industrial estate can be affected by polluting discharges from the industrial estate.
At present, the Environment Agency are uncertain whether these pollutants impact on
bathing water quality. However they will continue to investigate any issues and work
to implement remedial actions with those responsible.
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 38% of visits. Environment Agency research suggests the bathing water is
not subject to an excess 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. TheEnvironment Agency research suggests 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.
The Environment Agency makes a daily pollution risk forecast at this site based on
the effects of rain, tide 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 cause a temporary reduction in water quality, we will
issue a pollution risk warning on this website. Water quality will 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 8 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.
There are two streams in the catchment, Auburn Beck which drains across the bathing
beach and Earl's Dyke which drains into the North Sea to the south of the bathing
water.
The streams contain surface water runoff from agricultural land, an industrial estate
and also treated effluent from a small sewage works and may result in reduced water
quality at the bathing water particularly following periods of heavy rain.
There are no outfalls discharging directly into the bathing water. However, treated
effluents from Bridlington Sewage Treatment Works which discharges via a long sea
outfall into Bridlington South Bay, may have an affect on bathing water compliance
at Fraisthorpe Beach. The sewage treatment works was built in 2000 to ensure effluents
are treated and disinfected to protect the 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 Fraisthorpe
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 5% of visits. Litter was assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable
for 2% of visits, with 72% 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 41% of visits.
Environment Agency investigations indicate that the watercourses downstream of an
industrial estate can be affected by polluting discharges from the industrial estate.
At present, the Environment Agency are uncertain whether these pollutants impact on
bathing water quality. However they will continue to investigate any issues and work
to implement remedial actions with those responsible.
The Yorkshire Bathing Water Partnership is working together to ensure Yorkshire's
bathing beaches meet or go beyond the requirements of the revised 2015 Bathing Water
Directive. The Partnership comprises the Environment Agency, East Riding of Yorkshire
Council, North Yorkshire Council and Yorkshire Water.
A tactical group comprising officers from all organisations meets on a regular basis
to discuss issues, actions and potential resolutions at all our coastal bathing waters.
An area of 37 square kilometres (known as the hydrological catchment) drains into
the bathing water. The bathing water shares its northern boundary with neighbouring
Wilsthorpe Beach. The land in the catchment is predominantly flat and comprises mostly
farmland.
There are two streams in the catchment, Auburn Beck which drains across the bathing
beach and Earl's Dyke which drains into the North Sea to the south of the bathing
water.
The streams contain surface water runoff from agricultural land, an industrial estate
and also treated effluent from a small sewage works. In addition bathing water quality
may be impacted by he issues affecting the adjacent bathing waters at Bridlington
South and Wilsthorpe.
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.
