Frinton is a quiet family resort. The beach is gently shelving and sandy. The beach
is backed by the promenade and sloping cliffs, and the sea front still lined by many
Victorian style beach huts. It is close to the town centre.
Two sewer discharges, one either side of the bathing water, may operate when heavy
rainfall overwhelms the sewerage system and could cause a temporary reduction in bathing
water quality. Improvements to sewage works have been carried out at Walton and Frinton
to improve storm and surface water outfalls in the area. 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 has worked with the Environment Agency over a long period to help make
improvements to their sewerage infrastructure in and around Frinton. This has contributed
towards improvements in bathing water quality.
Walton Sewage Treatment Works was upgraded by Anglian Water in 2005 to protect bathing
water quality. Clacton Sewage Treatment Works was upgraded in 2001 which also helped
to protect bathing water quality.
Improvements to sewage works and storm and surface water outfalls in the area have
been undertaken at Walton and Frinton.
Anglian Water have assessed the impact of the sewage system in Frinton and Walton
and the long and short sea outfalls have on bathing water quality. These studies indicate
these outfalls do not significantly affect the quality of the Bathing Waters at Frinton.
An improvement scheme has been included in Anglian Water's next investmant programme
(2020-2025)
The Environment Agency has worked closely with the water companies, local authorities
and others 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 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 3% of visits, with 81% of
visits noting the presence of seaweed (macroalgae). 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 noted at this site. 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 2 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.
Clacton (Holland Haven) Sewage Treatment Works discharges via a 1 km long sea outfall
to the sea 4 km to the southwest of Frinton beach. A reed bed was added at Walton
Sewage Treatment Works in 2005, to reduce the numbers of bacteria entering the sea.
These sewage treatment works do not affect the compliance of the 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 Frinton 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 25% of visits. Tarry residue was not noted at
this site.
Frinton 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.
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.
