Hornsea Beach is a resort beach on the East Yorkshire coast. It is one kilometre
in length. The beach is backed by coastal defences and a seafront promenade. Along
the promenade are a small number of tourist establishments and behind this the town
of Hornsea.
Bathing water quality may sometimes be affected by storm and emergency overflows.
They may operate during and after heavy rainfall when the sewer system becomes overwhelmed
by the amount of surface water entering it. It prevents sewage from backing up pipes
and flooding properties.
There is an emergency overflow just to the south of the bathing water. During normal
weather conditions the overflow takes the drainage from Stream Dyke however under
very wet weather conditions and when there are problems with the sewerage network
system it will discharge effluent into the North Sea.
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/
Since 1998, the Environment Agency have worked closely with Yorkshire Water to identify
and deliver signThis has resulted in major improvements in its quality.
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.
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 6% 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.
By undertaking catchment investigations, the Environment Agency has, in the past,
identified a number of properties with misconnections in Hornsea and the surrounding
area and in partnership with the East Riding of Yorkshire Council have worked with
home owners to rectify the issues.
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. The Environment 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.
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.
Stream Dyke, a large drain, which takes the overflow from Hornsea Mere enters the
North Sea via an overflow pipe just to the south of Hornsea bathing water.
Hornsea Sewage Treatment Works was built in 2002 to ensure all effluents are treated
and disinfected which has helped to protect the bathing water quality. Treated effluent
is discharged into the sea via an offshore outfall pipe which is situated 500 metres
from the bathing beach.
Environment Agency samplers make observations of litter present on the beach at every
visit, this includes assessments of sewage debris, litter and tar. At Hornsea 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 14% of visits. Tarry residue was not assessed
as being sufficient to be objectionable, but was observed as being present on 13%
of visits.
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 17 square kilometres (known as the hydrological catchment) drains into
the bathing water. The catchment covers Hornsea Mere and part of Hornsea town. Other
areas of the catchment are made up of a number of small villages, farms and woodland.
Hornsea Mere is the largest natural freshwater lake in Yorkshire. It is designated
as a Site of Special Scientific Interest and Special Protection Area.
Surface water ditches collect runoff from the rural catchment and drain into Hornsea
Mere. The lake is connected to the North Sea via Stream Dyke which drains into the
North Sea just to the 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.
