Walton is a popular resort with the second longest pier in Britain. The beach is sandy
and backed by the promenade which is lined partly by beach huts and cafés. The Naze,
a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest, is nearby to the north.
This bathing water may be affected by a discharge from the town's main pumping station
that occurs when heavy rainfall overwhelms the sewerage system and causes diluted
sewage to overflow into the sea. After periods of rainfall this discharge could affect
bathing water quality.
Work continues to investigate other inputs in Walton. These investigations are joint
work between the Environment Agency and Anglian Water and form part of the water company's
investment programme. Prior to March 2025 Anglian Water propose to increase the storm
tank capacity at the Walton sewage pumping station to reduce the frequency of a storm
discharge to the sea.
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 is working with the Environment Agency to help identify improvements
in their sewage infrastructure in and around Walton.
The sewage from the town is pumped from a pumping station in the town to the nearby
sewage works for treatment and discharge.
Improvements to the sewage treatment works and storm and surface water outfalls in
the area have been undertaken at Walton and Frinton.
Anglian Water have modelled the sewage system and a number of sea outfalls in Walton
to assess their impact on bathing water quality. These studies indicate they could
affect the quality of the bathing water but only in extreme weather conditions. An
improvement scheme to increase the capacity of the sewage pumping station is included
in Anglian Water's next investment programme (2020-2025).
The Environment Agency has worked closely with the water company and local authority
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. Investigations and tracer studies of potentially contaminating
sources have ben undertaken over the years. These have identified that it would be
beneficial to improve storage at the Walton sewage pumping station which discharges
to the sea following heavy rainfall.
For the four year (2020-2023) assessment period where data is available, seaweed (macroalgae)
was assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable for 8% of visits, with 68% 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.
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.
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 and wind 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 7 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.
Walton Sewage Treatment Works discharges to the sea 4 km to the north of the town.
In 2005 a reed bed was installed at the works to reduce the number of bacteria entering
the sea from the works. Assessments carried out by Anglian Water show that this Works
should not significantly affect the quality of the bathing water at Walton.
Environment Agency samplers make observations of litter present on the beach at every
visit, this includes assessments of sewage debris, litter and tar. At Walton 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 27% of visits. Tarry residue was not noted at
this site.
Walton is within the Stour and Colne 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 town is in the north-east of the Tendring peninsular. The land is generally flat
and there are no rivers or streams close to the beach. Behind the town is Hamford
Water, which is a renowned site for over-wintering wildfowl. Further to the north
there is the Stour and Orwell estuary but this has no impact on bathing water quality.
The Naze cliffs are famous for fossils and attract many day trippers. To the south
east is the resort town of Frinton.
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.
