Hunstanton is a popular Norfolk coastal holiday resort with a largely sandy beach
and is one of the few beaches in Norfolk to face west. The tide retreats to expose
a wide sandy beach, with some stones and rock pools near the red and white striped
cliffs at the north end. The majority of beach exposed at low tide is very gently
shelving. Tidal movement stirs up sand and sediment in the sea and makes it look cloudy.
The beach is backed by a promenade and the town.
There is a long and short sea outfall close to Hunstanton Main bathing water. These
outfalls discharge emergency and storm sewerage, as well as trade effluent. 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 have worked with the Environment Agency over a long period to help make
improvements to their sewerage infrastructure in and around Hunstanton. Improvements
have been carried out to storm, emergency and surface water outfalls and leaking sewers.
The Environment Agency will continue to work with Anglian Water to identify further
areas for improvement.
Storm sewage storage capacity at Hunstanton short sea outfall was increased in 1998,
to protect the quality of the bathing water. Further investigations were undertaken
by Anglian Water which were completed in September 2022 and the results suggest that
water quality can be affected by birds feeding on mudflats and overflows within the
catchment.
The Environment Agency has worked with the water company, local authority and other
partners to investigate sources of contamination and improve water quality in this
area. This has included investigations into the impact Hunstanton’s urban area has
on water quality, as well as investigations into the movement of water in the Wash.
Source apportionment and tracer studies undertaken by Anglian Water in 2017 confirmed
the link between the surface water sewerage system and the bathing water. Work with
Anglian Water on improving contamination from surface water will continue. The Environment
Agency are using a DNA tracing technique which will identify whether sources of pollution
are human or non-human. Using this technique, alongside mud sampling, investigations
between 2019 – 2023 indicated that contamination by seabirds was evident at the beach,
however, the DNA technique cannot yet be used to ‘source apportion’ and DNA markers
are not yet available for all species (for example seals). The Environment Agency
continue to work with others to manage ongoing issues and prevent future pollution.
The Environment Agency are continuing to investigate surface water quality and identify
any sources of poor quality water which may affect the bathing water. Due consideration
is to be given to the potential impact of birds which roost on roofs close to the
bathing water. Regular liaison meetings have been held throughout the bathing water
season between the Environment Agency, local authority, Anglian Water and other stakeholders
to discuss ongoing work and actions.
For the four year (2020-2023) assessment period where data is available, seaweed (macroalgae)
was assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable for 2% of visits, with 53% of
visits noting the presence of seaweed (macroalgae). Whilst seaweed (macro algae) is
regularly recorded as present, it is not observed in large quantities on the beach
and in the bathing water. 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.
Drainage from Hunstanton town can affect this Bathing Water. An investigation by Anglian
Water to investigate pollution sources from surface water sewers and misconnections
contributing to the deterioration of Hunstanton bathing waters, showed limited evidence
of misconnections. A likely source of bacteria is bird guano and dog fouling.
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 9% 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.
This bathing water is subject to short term pollution procedures. The Environment
Agency makes a daily pollution risk forecast at this site based on the effects of
rain, tide, wind and seasonality on bathing water quality. These factors affect the
levels of bacteria that get washed into the sea from livestock, sewage and urban drainage
via rivers and streams and how they disperse.
When these factors combine to make short term pollution likely we issue a pollution
risk warning on this website and the beach manager will display a sign advising against
bathing at the bathing water. After a short term pollution event, levels of bacteria
typically return to normal after a day or so but it’s possible to have several warning
days in a row. Details of the work to reduce the sources of bacteria at this bathing
water are detailed in this profile.
In 2023 24 pollution risk warnings were issued for this bathing water.
All bathing waters have the potential to be affected by a pollution incident and if
this occurs a pollution risk warning will be issued with associated advice against
bathing on this website.
There are no rivers or streams close to the beach.
The Heacham River discharges into the sea at Heacham South Beach, approximately 3.8
km south of Hunstanton Main Beach. The Environment Agency continue to work with Anglian
Water, the Local Authority, the farming community and private owners, to investigate
sources of contamination and improve the water quality within the river (see profile
for Heacham bathing water for further information on the Heacham river).
There is a small, culverted watercourse outfall south of Hunstanton boat ramp, approximately
0.5 km from the main beach. Work continues to improve the water quality of this watercourse
and assess any impact it has on bathing water quality.
There are no Sewage Treatment Works in Hunstanton itself. The closest Sewage Treatment
Works is in neighbouring Heacham, which discharges to a tributary of the Heacham river.
Improvements including Ultraviolet disinfection were put in place at Heacham Sewage
Treatment Works by Anglian Water in 1998. Heacham Sewage Treatment Works is unlikely
to affect the quality of Hunstanton Main bathing water, and work continues to ensure
that this remains the case.
Environment Agency samplers make observations of litter present on the beach at every
visit, this includes assessments of sewage debris, litter and tar. At Hunstanton Main
Beach 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 36% of visits. Tarry residue
was not noted at this site.
The Environment Agency work with farmers to enhance farming practices, reduce run
off from farmlands, and improve their understanding of pollution issues. The Environment
Agency ongoing work includes giving advice on good farming practice as well as offering
farm visits and surveys of the area to identify potential risks.
Over the years, our investigations around Hunstanton have identified issues such as
drainage misconnections (that can lead to sewage entering surface water drains) or
have identified practices that could result in pollution to the bathing water generally.
The Environment Agency have worked with caravan park owners, businesses, and private
residents to ensure improvements are put in place where necessary. In 2011, the Environment
Agency worked with a business owner at Hunstanton to install UV treatments which will
improve the quality of the water discharging into the sea.
There are no rivers or streams close to the beach. Rainwater falling onto car parks
and other hard surfaces may drain onto the beach. The beach is surrounded by urban
areas.
The Wash is the largest estuarine system in the UK. It is recognised as an internationally
important site for waders and wildfowl under the Ramsar Convention, particularly in
winter as well as during the spring and autumn migration, where it hosts hundreds
of thousands of shorebirds. There is also a large population of gulls in the area,
present all year round. The area is also a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI),
Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and a Special Protection Area (SPA).
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.