2024 Bathing Water Profile for Reighton
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Reighton Beach is a rural sandy beach situated on the north Yorkshire coast to the south of Filey. The designated bathing water area is one kilometre in length with a gentle slope. At low tide a large area of the beach is exposed and the water's edge can be some distance away. The bathing water is backed by clay cliffs to the north and chalk cliffs to the south. There is a large holiday park situated on the high cliff top above the beach.
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Scarborough District
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North Yorkshire
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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.
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Bathing water quality may sometimes be affected by storm and emergency overflows. There is an emergency overflow from a Sewage Pumping Station into the Gill and when this operates it will result in reduced water quality in the Gill and at the bathing water.
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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 20% of visits. Environment Agency research suggests the bathing water is not subject to an excess of seaweed (macro algae).
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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.
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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.
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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.
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2024 Bathing Water Profile for Reighton
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2024-09-30
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2024-05-01
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A small stream called The Gill collects surface water from the cliff top and with another small stream which it meets in a culvert at the bottom of the steep hill, drains directly onto the beach.
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There are no known sewage treatment works outfalls impacting or directly discharging into the bathing water.
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Environment Agency samplers make observations of litter present on the beach at every visit, this includes assessments of sewage debris, litter and tar. At Reighton 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 8% of visits. Tarry residue was not noted at this site.
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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.
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The Environment Agency continue to work with the owners of the Holiday Park to ensure that the drainage infrastructure is managed and maintained to prevent water quality issues in The Gill.
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An area of 0.5 square kilometres (known as the hydrological catchment) drains into the bathing water. The catchment is mostly comprised of a large holiday park. A small stream called The Gill collects surface water from the cliff top and with another small stream which it meets in a culvert at the bottom of the steep hill, drains directly onto the beach.
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Reighton
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Reighton
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Sampling point at Reighton
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514355
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54.16912811684886
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-0.249812947593646
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476227
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Sampling point at Reighton
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p152 dT23 h59 m59 s
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2024 05 01 t00:00:00
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2024-05-01T00:00:00
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2024 09 30 t23:59:59
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2024-09-30T23:59:59
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2024 07700:1
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Discharges from sewage treatment works have improved substantially in England since the 1980s.
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