Hunstanton is a popular Norfolk coastal holiday resort. The Old Hunstanton beach is
at the north end just outside of the town and is a quiet rural beach. The wide sandy
beach has a row of colourful beach huts just behind the sand dunes.
There is a long and short sea outfall are approximately 2.7 km away, at Hunstanton.
These outfalls discharge emergency and storm sewage, as well as trade effluent. Further
investigations into these outfalls are ongoing to ensure that they do not affect the
bathing water quality at Old Hunstanton. A consented overflow discharges to the east
of Old Hunstanton near Thornham, but tracer studies have shown minimal connectivity
to the bathing water.
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/
The Environment Agency and Anglian Water have worked closely together to identify
and deliver significant investment in the sewerage infrastructure around this bathing
water, which has resulted in major improvements in its water quality. Improvements
have been carried out to storm, emergency and surface water outfalls and leaking sewers.
This has been focused mainly within the town, as contaminated water entering the sea
at that location has the potential to affect Old Hunstanton beach. Investigations
include using CCTV to identify any problems with the sewerage system. Further investigations
were undertaken by Anglian Water which were completed in September 2022, and the results
suggest no dominant source of bacteria, but water quality can be affected by birds
and overflows within the catchment.
The Environment Agency has worked with the water companies, universities, local authorities
and other partners to investigate sources of contamination and to 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. The Environment Agency also continue to work with others to manage ongoing
issues and prevent future pollution. The Environment Agency can use a DNA tracing
technique which will improve the Environment Agency's ability to identify whether
sources of pollution are human or non-human. Using this technique, the investigations
in 2019 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). Tidal states appear to influence
water quality. The currents in the Wash and movement of sandbars might also be playing
a part, together with where the bathing water sits in relation to the Wash. The Environment
Agency is now undertaking further investigations and sample analysis following the
deterioration in water quality at this bathing water in 2022.
The Environment Agency are continuing to investigate surface water quality and identify
any sources of poor quality water which may affect 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 not assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable, but was observed as being
present on 70% 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.
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 6% 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 12 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.
The Heacham River discharges out into the sea at Heacham South Beach, approximately
6 km south of Old Hunstanton. This river is unlikely to affect water quality at Old
Hunstanton beach.
There is a small, culverted watercourse outfall approximately 3 km south of Old Hunstanton
bathing water. Work continues to improve the water quality of this watercourse and
assess its impacts on this bathing water.
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 Ultra Violet disinfection,
were put in place at Heacham Sewage Treatment Works by Anglian Water in 1998. This
has been effective in reducing bacteria numbers from the sewage works into the Heacham
river system.
Heacham Sewage Treatment Works is unlikely to affect the quality of Old Hunstanton
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 Hunstanton (Old
Hunstanton) for the four year (2020-2023) assessment period where data is available,
sewage debris was not assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable, but was observed
as being present on 2% of visits. Litter was not assessed as being sufficient to be
objectionable, but was observed as being present on 55% 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.
Our investigations around Old Hunstanton have not identified any obvious issues. However,
problems such as drainage misconnections (that can lead to sewage entering surface
water drains) or practices that could result in pollution have, in the past, been
identified in the town of Hunstanton itself. Discharges at Hunstanton Main could affect
Old Hunstanton Bathing Water. 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
Main 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. This is a sandy beach backed by
dunes and cliffs. There are no rivers or streams close to the beach. This is a sandy
beach backed by dunes and cliffs. 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.