Runswick Bay Beach is a rural beach situated on the north Yorkshire coast. It lies
within a sheltered sandy bay. The small village of Runswick Bay sits above the beach
at the northern end of the bay and steep clay cliffs run to the south. At low tide,
a large area of the beach is exposed, and the water's edge can be some distance away
The quality of bathing water may sometimes be affected by storm, emergency and surface
water outfalls. Storm overflows may operate during and after heavy rainfall. This
is 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 outfalls discharging directly onto the bathing water area. However, there
are two storm overflows near the bathing water area. One discharges through a sea
outfall at the northern end of the bay, whilst the second overflow discharges directly
to Runswick Beck at northern end of the village. They are designed to discharge diluted
and screened effluent during or after heavy rainfall. The operation of the outfalls
may sometimes result in reduced bathing water quality.
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 around Runswick
Bay. This has resulted in major improvements in water 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 assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable for 8% of visits, with 71% of
visits noting the presence of seaweed (macroalgae). Environment Agency research suggests
the bathing water is sometimes 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 assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable, but
was observed as being present on 2% of visits. 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.
Five streams, Runswick Beck to the north of the village and Nettledale Beck, Limekiln
Beck, Calais Beck and Claymoor Beck to the south cut through the steep mixed agricultural
catchment and run across the sand to the sea. The steep valleys in the catchment
means that during heavy rainfall surface water off from the agricultural catchment
into the streams is washed down onto the bathing beach. This may sometimes result
in reduced water quality.
In 2000, effluent from the Runswick Bay catchment were transferred to Hinderwell Sewage
Treatment Works to be treated and disinfected. The treated effluent is discharged
through the Staithes long sea outfall and not into Runswick Bay. Removing sewage effluent
from the Runswick Bay catchment has helped 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 Runswick Bay
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 9% of visits. Tarry residue was not noted at
this site.
Part of the Environment Agency's role is to work with farmers to reduce the effects
of farming on water quality. The Environment Agency provide advice to farmers on
how to comply with regulations and good practice on farms to ensure that minimal levels
of pollution enter watercourses.
During and after periods of heavy rainfall, runoff from agricultural areas will be
greatly increased. The quality of the bathing water may be adversely affected as a
result of such events.
The Yorkshire Bathing Water Partnership is working together to ensure Yorkshire's
bathing beaches meet or go beyond the requirements of the revised Bathing Water Directive
2015. 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 Yorkshire's coastal bathing
waters.
An area of 6.9 square kilometres (known as the hydrological catchment) drains into
the bathing water. The bathing water is nestled within an enclosed bay surrounded
by steep cliffs. Five streams, Runswick Beck to the north of the village and Nettledale
Beck, Limekiln Beck, Calais Beck and Claymoor Beck to the south cut through the mixed
agricultural catchment and run across the sand to the sea.
The river valleys are steep and straight and surface water runs off the land into
the streams and onto the beach very quickly.
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.
