Withernsea Beach is a long sandy resort beach on the east Yorkshire coast. It is
one kilometre in length. Behind the beach lies the seafront promenade and the town
of Withernsea.
Bathing water quality may sometimes be affected by storm, emergency and surface water
outfalls. Storm overflows may operate during and after heavy rainfall when the sewer
system becomes overwhelmed by the amount of surface water entering it. The overflows
prevent sewage from backing up pipes and flooding properties.
There are two outfalls within the bathing water area at Withernsea; an emergency overflow
in close proximity to the bathing water monitoring point and a storm overflow at the
southern end of the bathing water area. The operation of these storm overflows may
sometimes result in reduced bathing water quality. The emergency overflow next to
the bathing water monitoring point has been designed to operate only under severe
weather conditions or when there are problems on the sewerage network system.
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 significant investment in the sewerage infrastructure at Withernsea town.
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.
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.
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.
Following coastal erosion impacting on the viability of Withernsea STW, all sewage
effluent is now treated at a new inland sewage works, Hollym Myers STW which is located
at Hollym.
When designing the new sewage works, the opportunity was taken to investigate the
viability of a low carbon, low energy approach to sewage treatment and disinfection
utilising facultative ponds which rely on settlement, large exposed surface areas,
and naturally occurring UV light. This method is currently undergoing evaluation
by the EA and YW to test the efficacy of the treatment process. The treated effluent
from the works enters the North Sea via a new long sea outfall installed in 2022 which
discharges to the south of the 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 Withernsea 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 43% of visits. Tarry residue was not assessed
as being sufficient to be objectionable, but was observed as being present on 5% 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 0.3 square kilometres (known as the hydrological catchment) drains into
the bathing water. The catchment covers part of Withernsea town and is affected by
surface water runoff from urban areas.
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.
