Eastbourne beach is a resort beach situated between the chalk cliffs of Beachy Head
and Eastbourne Pier. The beach is predominantly shingle, with shallow sandflats exposed
at low water. Above the beach there is a promenade, followed by the urban backdrop
of Eastbourne.
There is a surface water outfall on the beach about 200 metres southwest of the bathing
water sampling point. Reduced water quality may persist in the area adjacent to the
outfall for some time after rainfall has occurred. The Granville Road storm overflow
also discharges out of this surface water outfall. Discharges occur when heavy rainfall
overwhelms the sewerage system. However, the storm overflows are designed not to affect
bathing water compliance.
Eastbourne sewage treatment works at Langney Point is the largest discharge in the
vicinity of Eastbourne bathing water (four kilometres to the east). In 1996, primary
treatment was installed and a long sea outfall was built to protect bathing water
compliance. Flows from Eastbourne and Pevensey were transferred to the long sea outfall
prior to the 1996 bathing season. Since then, the sewage treatment works has been
upgraded.
Under the programme of works for Southern 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 installation of a long sea outfall at Langney Point in 1996 did not improve the
bathing water quality at Eastbourne bathing water significantly. The Environment Agency
and Eastbourne Borough Council carried out joint investigations for alternative sources
of contamination. High levels of contamination were found in the vicinity of Eastbourne
Pier. The Environment Agency found a leak in a sewer, which was sealed subsequently.
Following the commission of the long sea outfall at Langney Point in 1996, Eastbourne
Borough Council set up a routine sampling programme to monitor the water quality around
the bathing water. The area around the pier showed high levels of contamination. In
1998, Eastbourne Borough Council carried out a CCTV survey to investigate the infrastructure
of the sewers in vicinity of the pier. A leaking sewer in the area was sealed in 2000.
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 39% of visits. The shore can become covered with seaweed, depending on
tides and the weather. Groynes, rocks and other fixed objects may have 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. In 2023,
Southern Water identified and rectified a misconnected toilet that was plumbed into
a surface water drain that discharged very close to the bathing water.
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. Microscopic algae (phytoplankton) 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 4 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.
Environment Agency samplers make observations of litter present on the beach at every
visit, this includes assessments of sewage debris, litter and tar. At Eastbourne 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 30% of visits. Tarry residue was not noted at
this site.
The catchment includes the majority of the town of Eastbourne and the forested chalk
downlands on the western edge of the town. There is a culverted river, the Bourne,
which drains into the sea via the Crumbles Sewer two kilometres east of the bathing
water. The catchment area is approximately 900 hectares.
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.