Chalkwell Beach is a long, narrow, sandy beach in a residential area just to the west
of Southend-on-Sea town centre. The beach is popular with young families and windsurfers.
This bathing water may be affected by discharges which can occur when heavy rainfall
overwhelms the sewerage system and causes diluted sewage to overflow. Within the wider
catchment of the bathing water there are several storm and emergency overflows, including
storm discharges directly onto the bathing water beach. Improvements by Anglian Water
to the local sewerage network has reduced storm discharges; however, during and after
periods of rainfall these discharges may have an adverse affect on bathing water quality.
The Environment Agency has worked with Anglian Water to investigate problems with
the water quality of this bathing water. This led to improvements to storm overflows
which AWS completed in 1998. Improvements to two storm overflows on Canvey Island,
which were completed in 2009, may have improved water quality in Benfleet Creek and
therefore potentially the water quality of the bathing water. Since 2013 both the
Environment Agency and Anglian Water have undertaken monitoring of outfalls along
the Southend coastline to assess their impact on bathing water quality. During 2015
to 2020, Anglian Water were involved in extensive work, and included modelling pollution
sources, rectifying misconnections and increasing storm overflow capacity. Under
the programme of works for Anglian Water (from 2020 to 2022) investigations within
the catchment were carried out. This will help to identify where bathing water improvements
may be needed in the future.
The Environment Agency investigated the catchment in order to identify possible sources
of pollution. Surveys were carried out between 2012 and 2019, including storm overflows,
surface water outfalls & tidal surveys. The Environment Agency introduced a DNA tracing
technique that helps us identify whether sources of faecal pollution are human or
animal, the results of these investigations led to Anglian Water carrying out measures
to reduce the likelihood and amount of storm sewage being discharged. The Environment
Agency and Anglian Water are also jointly investigating misconnected foul drainage
to surface water sewers in the catchment. This includes flow monitoring of the surface
water outfalls. The results of these investigations will be used by Anglian Water
to update their modelling of pollution sources. A partnership group has been created
with Southend Borough Council, the Environment Agency & Anglian Water to investigate
ways to improve the bathing water.
This bathing water catchment has a series of surface water outfalls that drain surface
water from the surrounding area. The Environment Agency have undertaken regular inspection
and sampling of surface water outfalls over the years and results have shown that
the bathing water may be subject to reduced water quality after periods of rainfall.
The misconnection of domestic foul sewers to surface water drainage can affect the
water quality of rivers and the sea. If the Environment Agency continued investigations
indicate that reduced water quality is caused by misconnected foul drainage the Environment
Agency will work with the local authorities and AWS to investigate and rectify the
problem.
For the four year (2020-2023) assessment period where data is available, seaweed (macroalgae)
was assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable for 5% of visits, with 94% of
visits noting the presence of seaweed (macroalgae). The bathing water has potential
to become covered with seaweed, depending on tides and the weather. Groynes and rocks,
platforms or other fixed objects may also 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. Anglian
Water have been have been identifying and rectifying misconnections within the Southend
Chalkwell catchment.
For the four year (2020-2023) assessment period where data is available, phytoplankton
(microscopic algae) was not noted at this site. 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.
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, 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 8 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 is a river which enters this bathing water and can be seen on the map to the
west of the sampling point. This river may sometimes be a source of reduced water
quality after heavy rainfall. Chalkwell may be affected by Leigh Creek and Benfleet
Creek. Improvements to two storm overflows on Canvey Island in 2009 may have improved
water quality in Benfleet Creek. Impacts from the wider Thames estuary are not thought
to be significant.
Southend Sewage Treatment Work's (STW) long sea outfall is located five kilometres
to the south of the bathing water so that bathing waters are protected.
Environment Agency samplers make observations of litter present on the beach at every
visit, this includes assessments of sewage debris, litter and tar. At Southend Chalkwell
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 81% of visits. Tarry residue was not noted at
this site.
There are a small number of farms in the bathing water catchment, the majority of
which are arable. Problems with bathing water quality in the Southend area are not
believed to be linked to farming practices and therefore no specific work with this
sector has taken place.
The immediate catchment of the beach includes the large urban areas of Southend-on-Sea
and Leigh-on-Sea. The western end of the catchment includes Benfleet Creek and Leigh
Creek. Land immediately surrounding these creeks is largely made up of marshy grassland.
The further surroundings of Benfleet Creek include areas of farmland and some residential
areas of Canvey Island Town and Benfleet Town.
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.