Tunstall is currently closed, there is no safe access to bathers due to coastal erosion.
Tunstall Beach is a long rural beach on the Yorkshire coast. It is one kilometre in
length and is covered with sand and pebbles. Backing onto the beach is the Holderness
Cliff and rural land on the cliff top where there is a caravan park and farmland.
The Environment Agency regularly carry out investigations to identify sources of pollution
in the catchment. The Environment Agency do this by monitoring the quality of streams
and visiting sites. The Environment Agency give advice on compliance with regulations
and good practice as appropriate.
For the one year (2018) assessment period where data is available, seaweed (macroalgae)
was not noted at this site. 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 one year (2018) 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.
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.
Environment Agency samplers make observations of litter present on the beach at every
visit, this includes assessments of sewage debris, litter and tar. At Tunstall for
the one year (2018) 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 100% of visits. Tarry residue was not noted at
this site.
There is one private sewage treatment works in the catchment. The treated effluent
is discharged to Tunstall Drain, which flows in a south-west direction towards the
Humber Estuary. This private sewage treatment works does not affect bathing water
compliance.
An area of 0.3 square kilometres (known as the hydrological catchment) drains into
the bathing water. The catchment is small and it is limited to a small section of
the bathing beach. Surface water from the catchment drains into Tunstall Drain which
flows in a south-west direction towards the Humber 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 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.
