There are numerous storm and emergency outfall that discharge to the River Yare. Prior
to the 2007 improvements, which included significant additional storage, these outfalls
were known to affect 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/
Anglian Water has worked with the Environment Agency over a long period to help make
improvements to their sewerage infrastructure in and around Gt Yarmouth and Caister.
This has contributed towards improvements in bathing water quality.
The Caister Sewage Treatment Works, which discharges via a long sea outfall (1.4 km)
was upgraded in 1996 and further improvements were carried out in 2001 to protect
the quality of the bathing water.
The Great Yarmouth sewerage improvement scheme began in August 1996 and further improvements
were made in 2007.
The Environment Agency has worked closely with the water companies, local authorities
and others to investigate any sources of contamination and to improve water quality.
This work has been concentrated in and around Great Yarmouth and the improvements
will have further protected this beach.
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 58% of visits. This bathing water does not have a history of large amounts
of seaweed (macro algae). However groynes and rocks, platforms or other fixed objects
may develop a covering of seaweed which can be slippery.
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 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 2% of visits. Phytoplankton (microscopic algae) naturally
increase in number at certain times of the year. This process is known as a phytoplankton
bloom. 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.
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 are no local streams or rivers that impact directly on this bathing water. However,
discharges in the River Yare have been known to affect bathing water quality. Improvements
to these discharges have led to an improvement in bathing water quality at the beach.
Improvements were carried out at Caister Sewage Treatment Works in 2001 and 2009 which
helped to protect the quality of the bathing water. Caister sewage treatment works
does not affect bathing water compliance.
Environment Agency samplers make observations of litter present on the beach at every
visit, this includes assessments of sewage debris, litter and tar. At Caister Point
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 44% of visits. Tarry residue was not noted at
this site.
Caister is within the Yare Catchment Sensitive Farming area. This is a partnership
between Natural England and the Environment Agency. Its aim is to work with farmers
to enhance farming practices and reduce run off from farmlands.
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 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.
