The River Teme flows south through Ludlow towards its confluence with the River Severn.
The bathing river area stretches from the Linney boating pontoon just over 200m downstream
to the Ludlow Mill beach, just upstream of Dinham bridge. This stretch of river crosses
the Ludford Mill Wier. Access to the swimming area is via the Ludlow Mill beach.
There are a number of permitted storm overflows that discharge into the River Teme
upstream of Ludlow. In the 1km section upstream of the designated bathing water, there
is one Combined Sewer Overflow (Ludlow – the Linny CSO) and a Sewage Pumping Station
(Fishmore View PS/EO). When these outfalls are operating, they discharge diluted effluent
into the river which may result in reduced bathing water quality.
The Environment Agency works closely with Severn Trent Water to identify and deliver
significant investment in sewerage infrastructure. The Environment Agency is supporting
Severn Trent Water and Local Authority to progress catchment investigations and undertaking
work to minimise surface water entering the combined sewer, in order to reduce the
operation of storm overflows. Storm overflow event duration monitoring (EDM) has been
installed at all storm overflows across the Severn Trent Water Network, and all data
is publicly available. Severn Trent Water, the Local Authority and the Environment
Agency will work together to investigate, and plan investment for required improvements
to water quality at the bathing water.
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 do this by monitoring the quality of streams
and visiting sites where the Environment Agency give advice on compliance with regulations
and good practice as appropriate. The Environment Agency have a duty to undertake
water quality monitoring for the bathing water. The Environment Agency continues to
work with and support local environmental groups with citizen science sampling projects
on the River Teme and its tributaries.
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 wastewater 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 examples, a washing machine or toilet may be incorrectly plumbed
so that it discharges to the surface drain rather than the foul sewage drain.
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. If a bloom of blue-green
algae is visible you are advised not to enter the water and to contact the bathing
water operator.
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.
There is a large catchment area above the River Teme at Ludlow, which includes rivers
and streams that will receive runoff from both urban and rural areas. The impact of
these is currently unknown, and further investigations will be required. The Environment
Agency works to improve water quality in rivers and reduce potential sources of pollution.
Diffuse runoff from agriculture and settlements upstream of the bathing water will
also affect the bacteriological quality of the River Teme. Freshwater ecological and
physio-chemical monitoring has been completed in this river since 1985 and shows a
long-term trend of improving river quality.
The closest sewage company discharge to the River Teme is: Stanton Lacy STW, which
is approximately 7 km upstream. This discharges into the river as final treated effluent.
There are several other water discharges upstream of the River Teme at Ludlow. Further
investigation is required to understand the impact of these discharges on the bathing
water. Ludlow STW is discharges 2.8 km downstream of the bathing area.
Environment Agency samplers make observations of litter present on the beach at every
visit, this includes assessments of sewage debris, litter and tar.
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 Teme catchment, upstream of Ludlow, is largely
agricultural, with a combination of arable or livestock farming. During and after
periods of heavy rainfall, runoff from agricultural areas will be greatly increased
and this may adversely affect the quality of the bathing water.
There are a number of private sewage treatment plants within the catchment and the
Environment Agency works 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 Teme is a rural river, passing through the market towns of Ludlow and Tenbury
Wells before joining the River Severn south of Worcester. It is the second largest
tributary of the River Severn; 122 kilometres in length. The area is popular for tourism,
and is nationally recognised for its wildlife. The River Teme is classed as a Site
of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The catchment includes tributaries such as
the rivers Clun, Onny, Corve, and Rea, and larger brooks like the Ledwyche, Kyre,
Sapey, Leigh, and Laughern.
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 into rivers. 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. 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.
