Norman's Bay is a remote beach between Eastbourne and Hasting in East Sussex. The
beach is predominantly shingle, with shallow sand flats exposed at low water.
Due to the large catchment area of the Waller's Haven and East Stream rivers, Norman's
Bay bathing water is under the influence of many local private and Southern Water
Services discharges, which enter the sea through the river outfalls. This makes the
bathing water vulnerable to bacterial contamination. Agricultural runoff from the
large farmland areas in the catchment can be a source of contamination particularly
during and after periods of heavy rainfall.
The Environment Agency carried out a series of surveys across the catchment in 2008
to 2013. However, the sources of contamination remain unclear. The Environment Agency
introduced a DNA tracing technique that helps us identify whether sources of faecal
pollution are human or animal. Since 2019, we have been using this method at Norman’s
Bay. This means we can target further investigations and identify appropriate course
of corrective action.
For the four year (2020-2023) assessment period where data is available, seaweed (macroalgae)
was assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable for 2% of visits, with 35% of
visits noting the presence of seaweed (macroalgae). This bathing water does not have
a history of large amounts of seaweed.
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 4% 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.
There are no active pollution risk forecasts made at this bathing water. However any
bathing water has the potential to be affected by a pollution incident and if this
occurs a pollution risk warning with associated advice against bathing will be issued
on this website.
The main rivers are Waller's Haven and East Stream, which drain into the sea east
of Norman's Bay bathing water. The catchment of these rivers is vast with a complex
network of drainage ditches through farmland and villages. The river network receives
many private inputs and a number of inputs from sewage treatment works, as well as
agricultural runoff. These inputs reach the bathing water through the two river outfalls.
The closest outfall from a sewage treatment works into the sea is Langney Point long
sea outfall. Eastbourne sewage treatment works, which discharges through the long
sea outfall, was upgraded in 2003.
Environment Agency samplers make observations of litter present on the beach at every
visit, this includes assessments of sewage debris, litter and tar. At Norman`s Bay
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 20% of visits. Tarry residue was not noted at
this site.
In 2005, Defra launched the England Catchment Sensitive Farming Delivery Initiative
in partnership with the Environment Agency and Natural England. The initiative aimed
to reduce the negative effect of farming operations on the quality of surface and
ground water by raising farmer awareness and promoting catchment sensitive farming.
It put Catchment Sensitive Farming Officers into priority catchments and resourced
them to help farmers improve farming practices and reduce water pollution from agriculture.
Most of the catchment of the Pevensey Levels was included as a catchment under the
Catchment Sensitive Farming Delivery Initiative.
The natural drainage (hydrological) catchment surrounding the bathing water is approximately
9700 hectares. The catchment stretches as far north as the B2096. The catchment is
mainly agricultural with wooded downlands, some villages and a complex network of
streams and ditches. The main rivers are Waller's Haven and East Stream, which drain
into the sea to the east of Norman's Bay bathing water.
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.
