Shoreham (or Shoreham-by-Sea) is a small seaside town and port in West Sussex, England.
Shoreham Beach is a shingle spit deposited over time by longshore drift. This blocks
the southerly flow of the River Adur which turns east at this point and eventually
meets the sea further along the coast. The pebble beach is predominantly groyned,
gently sloping and offers a wide area for bathing with some sand exposed at low water.
The River Adur exits the harbour at the eastern end of the bathing water separated
by a concrete breakwater.
The majority of sewers in England and Wales 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.
Prior to 2002, treated sewage was discharged from Shoreham and Worthing Long Sea Outfalls
(4.2 km and 5.2 km from the bathing water respectively). In 2002, Shoreham and East
Worthing sewage works were upgraded and the effluent receives further treatment before
being discharged through the long sea outfalls.
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 65% 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.
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 6% 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 River Adur exits the harbour at the eastern end of the bathing water separated
by a concrete breakwater. The river could occasionally be a source of contamination
to the bathing water at certain states of tide under wet weather conditions.
There is a high standard of treatment at the two sewage treatment works that discharge
4.2 km and 5.2 km from the shore of this bathing water which is designed to protect
bathing water quality.
Environment Agency samplers make observations of litter present on the beach at every
visit, this includes assessments of sewage debris, litter and tar. At Shoreham Beach
for the four year (2020-2023) assessment period where data is available, sewage debris
was not noted at this site. Litter was assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable
for 2% of visits, with 42% of visits noting the presence of litter. Tarry residue
was not noted at this site.
The bathing water is situated at a low lying peninsula of land at the west side of
the entrance to Shoreham Harbour. The natural drainage (hydrological) catchment surrounding
the bathing water is approximately 45,000 hectares. This includes the catchment of
the River Adur which enters the sea at the eastern end of the bathing water. The local
area behind the bathing water is urban but most of the wider surrounding area is predominantly
rural (arable and managed grassland).
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.