Robin Hood's Bay Beach is a small rural beach situated on the north Yorkshire coast.
It is approximately 200 metres in length and enclosed by rocks and rock pools which
become exposed at low tide. Above the beach is the village of Robin Hood's Bay, which
hosts a number of tourist establishments, shops, and food outlets, cottages and houses
all packed tightly on the surrounding steep cliffs.
The quality of the 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 storm overflows discharging directly into the bathing water. However,
there are two outfalls near the bathing water. One is located to the north of the
bathing water and a second discharges into King's Beck in the village. When these
overflows operate, they discharge diluted and screened effluent into the sea and the
stream which 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 Robin Hood's
Bay bathing beach.
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 2% of visits, with 80% of
visits noting the presence of seaweed (macroalgae). Environment Agency research suggests
the bathing water may sometimes suffer from 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.
The misconnection of domestic foul water to surface water drainage can affect the
water quality of rivers and the sea.
When we identify and locate significant misconnection issues we work with Yorkshire
Water and North Yorkshire Council to rectify the problems.
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 3% 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.
This bathing water is subject to short term pollution procedures. The Environment
Agency makes a daily pollution risk forecast at this site based on the effects of
rain and tide 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 make short term pollution likely we issue a pollution
risk warning on this website and the beach manager will display a sign advising against
bathing at the bathing water. After a short term pollution event, levels of bacteria
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 15 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.
Streams are typically affected by run-off entering the watercourse further up the
catchment. The steep landscape encourages water to run off land and into the streams
very quickly. This may sometimes result in reduced 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 Robin Hoods
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 2% of visits. Tarry residue
was not noted at this site.
There are a number of farms within the Robin Hoods Bay catchment and following periods
of heavy rainfall, runoff from agricultural areas can be greatly increased and may
reduce water quality in the streams and at the bathing water.
The Environment Agency provide advice to farmers on how to comply with regulations
and good practice on farms to ensure that the impact of their activities on water
quality is minimised.
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.
There are a number of private sewage treatment plants within the catchment and the
Environment Agency continues to work with the owners to ensure that these are adequately
maintained and do not impact on the water quality of the streams they discharge in
to.
An area of 14 square kilometres (known as the hydrological catchment) drains into
the bathing water. Marnar Dale Beck merges with King's Beck at the bottom of the
catchment and discharges on to the beach via a large culvert to the side of the slipway.
Land use in the catchment is mainly agricultural and there are several caravan and
camping sites.
The two streams collect surface water from a steep catchment which, after prolonged
or heavy rain, can quickly run off the land into the streams and result in reduced
water quality at 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.