The River Severn flows through Shrewsbury on its way south towards the Bristol Channel.
The bathing water is located on a stretch of the river close to the centre of the
town. The bathing site entry location is located on the northern bank via the canoe
launch ramp, next to the Frankwell Riverside car park, just upstream of Frankwell
Footbridge. The bathing site is easily accessible from the main road by foot or bicycle.
The bathing site stretches to the boat entry/exit ramp. The bathing water sampling
site next to the bathing entry site, from a nearby fishing pontoon.
There are a number of permitted storm overflows that discharge into the River Severn
upstream of Shrewsbury. In the 1km section upstream of the designated bathing water,
there are several a Combined Sewer Overflows (Castle Foregate Street, Coton Hill,
Coton Hill 2, 58 Coton Hill, 75 Coton Hill, Gravel Hill Lane – The Flash) and a Sewage
Pumping Station (Hatfield Pumping Station). 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. 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 river quality 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.
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.
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 Severn at Shrewsbury, 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 Severn. Freshwater ecological
and physio-chemical monitoring has been completed in this river since 1990 and shows
a long-term trend of improving river quality.
The closest sewage company discharge to the River Severn at Shrewsbury is: Bomere
Heath STW, which is 11.5 km upstream. This has a final treated effluent and storm/emergency
outfall. There are several other water discharges upstream of the River Severn at
Shrewsbury. Further investigation is required to understand the impact of these discharges
on the bathing water. Shrewsbury-Monkmoor STW discharges approximately 8.5 km downstream
of the bathing water 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 Severn catchment, upstream of Shrewsbury, 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 River Severn originates from the Welsh uplands and flows through the heart of
England to the Severn Estuary, covering over 21,000 km². While the landscape is predominantly
rural, it flows through towns including, Welshpool, Shrewsbury, Ironbridge and Worcester
on its journey to the Bristol Channel. The Severn is celebrated for its diverse wildlife
and habitats, supporting species of global and national importance. The river's tributaries,
including the Teme, Avon, and Wye, contribute to its rich ecology and scenic beauty.
Agriculture and population pressures, along with physical modifications, have historically
impacted the river's ecology. Recreational activities such as boating, rowing, and
canoeing are prominent, particularly around urban stretches.
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.
