Wells beach forms part of the Holkham estate. It is a long sweeping sandy beach backed
by dunes and pine trees. The beach continues eastwards but can be cut off by the tide.
There is a national nature reserve and salt marshes nearby.
There are a number of outfalls discharging into the harbour from the town. Improvements
have been carried out to storm, emergency and surface water outfalls which have the
potential 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 in their sewerage infrastructure in and around Wells. This has contributed
towards improvements in bathing water quality. Anglian Water undertook a source apportionment
study looking at potential sources and pathways of contamination. This work will
inform the continuing Environment Agency investigations.
The Environment Agency has worked with the water companies, local authorities and
the land owner to investigate any sources of contamination and to improve water quality.
This has included investigations into reduced water quality and the identification
of sewerage infrastructure improvements. The Environment Agency has undertaken some
investigations in late 2018 to look at potential sources of pollution. This work
continued in the 2019 bathing season but there were no firm conclusions.
The Environment Agency are working with the District Council and Wells Harbour Commissioners
to ensure there are no polluting discharges which are unrelated to the sewerage network.
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 65% 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 7% 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
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 22 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 very limited freshwater inputs into the harbour. The most significant of
these drains the grazed Holkham marshes and the wildfowl scrapes of the North Norfolk
Nature reserves. Water quality can be subsequently reduced due to run off from these
areas.
Wells Sewage Treatment Works was upgraded in 1995 with UV disinfection added to protect
bathing water quality and, as a result, 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 Wells 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 48% of visits. Tarry residue was not noted at
this site.
Wells is within the North Norfolk Coast 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.
The beach is the seaward end of Wells harbour, which now serves the offshore wind
industry. There is a historic crab and shellfish industry in the town. The catchment
is principally rural in nature and there is minimal freshwater inputs into the harbour.
A number of surface water outfalls discharge into the harbour from the town's historic
sewerage system.
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.