The bathing water site, known as ‘Wharfe at Cromwheel, Ilkley', is located on the
River Wharfe at Ilkley, close to Ilkley town centre. It can be accessed from the Riverside
Walk footpath alongside the river. When the river level is low, a gently sloping shingle
beach is exposed. The Cromwheel site is located upstream of the suspension bridge
and all discharges from Ilkley Sewage Treatment Works.
There are a number of storm overflows that discharge into the River Wharfe. In the
1km section of river upstream of the designated bathing water, there is a Combined
Sewer Overflow (Rivadale View CSO) and a Sewage Pumping Station (Bridge Lane SPS).
A further overflow from Middleton Pumping Station is located just to the north of
the compliance monitoring point. When these outfalls are operating, they discharge
diluted effluent into the river which may result in reduced bathing 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. The Environment Agency continues to work with and support local environmental
groups with citizen science sampling projects on the River Wharfe and its tributaries.
During the summers of 2021, 2022 and 2023, the Environment Agency has undertaken extensive
water quality investigations in the River Wharfe at and upstream of the bathing water
site at Cromwheel and in a number of tributaries. This has included the installation
of continuous water quality monitors (sondes) at a number of sites along the River
Wharfe and the collection of investigatory chemical and bacteriological samples.
By using Microbial Source Tracking (MST) analysis techniques the Environment Agency
has been able to identify that both agriculture and sewage can impact on water quality
at the bathing water in dry weather conditions, however following rainfall in the
catchment the impact from agricultural practises becomes much more significant.
The Environment Agency is supporting Yorkshire Water and City of Bradford Metropolitan
District Council in progressing catchment investigations and undertaking work to minimise
surface water entering the combined sewer, in order to reduce the operation of storm
overflows. Bradford Council is expanding upon the works conducted as a Defra-funded
pilot Natural Flood Management (NFM) on Backstone Beck that completed in 2022. Peatland
restoration works are being progressed on other catchments on the moor.
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 three year (2021-2023) assessment period where data is available, phytoplankton
(microscopic algae) was assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable for 5% of
visits, with 26% of visits noting the presence of phytoplankton (microscopic algae).
Phytoplankton (microscopic algae) increase in number at certain times of the year.
This process is known as a phytoplankton bloom. Blooms of phytoplankton can result
in the water appearing discoloured or a foam forming on the water.
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.
Above the bathing water at Cromwheel, a number of named and unnamed streams flow into
the River Wharfe. These streams and the main River Wharfe itself receive run off
from both urban and rural areas which may have the potential to reduce bathing water
quality. During or after periods of heavy rainfall the impact from these sources
of pollution can increase the risk of reduced bathing water quality.
Ilkley Sewage Treatment Works has a final effluent outfall and a storm/emergency outfall,
which discharge to the River Wharfe, downstream of the designated bathing water site.
There are a number of Sewage Treatment plants upstream 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 Wharfe at Cromwheel,
Ilkley for the three year (2021-2023) assessment period where data is available, sewage
debris was not noted at this site. Litter was assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable
for 17% of visits, with 72% of visits noting the presence of litter. 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 pollution entering
watercourses is minimised. The River Wharfe catchment, upstream of Ilkley, is largely
agricultural, with the upper reaches comprising predominantly low intensity livestock
farming. During and after periods of heavy rainfall, runoff from agricultural areas
will be greatly increased and this can adversely affect the quality of the bathing
water.
The Environment Agency continues to work with Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust and Catchment
Sensitive Farming to idenify and address issues from agricultural land management
practises in the catchment.
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 to.
The upper catchment of the River Wharfe lies within the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
The surrounding hillside is scattered with springs and old mine workings. It is mostly
rural with several small centres of population including Kettlewell and Grassington
and is primarily a mixture of low intensity livestock farming. There are a number
of designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) within the catchment including
the stretch of the River Wharfe which flows from Buckden to the south of Kettlewell.
Below the National Park the Wharfe flows through the village of Addingham and the
larger market town of Ilkley.
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 and into rivers and streams. 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.