2024 Bathing Water Profile for Littlehampton
-
The bathing water is a resort beach on the south coast in West Sussex, adjacent to Littlehampton Harbour. The bathing water is predominantly a groyned, shingle beach but with gently shelving sand exposed at low water. A promenade sits above the beach with a large grassed area behind. The River Arun crosses the beach at the western end of the bathing water.
-
Arun District
-
West Sussex
-
Tidal surveys undertaken since 2000 indicated that the River Arun was a source of contamination. In 2003 and 2004, wet weather surveys were undertaken of the various discharges into the lower river but no large source of contamination was identified. In 2008, bacteriological tracer surveys showed that effluent from Ford Prison sewage treatment works reached the bathing water but dilution would prevent this having an affect on bathing water compliance. Since 2013, the prison effluent has been connected to the mains foul sewer, rather than discharging into the River Arun.
-
Within the vicinity of the beach there is one storm overflow called Foreshore Tank storm overflow. Discharges occur when heavy rainfall overwhelms the sewerage system but are designed not to affect bathing water compliance. There is a further storm overflow over 2 km to the east of the bathing water and another two storm overflows over 500m upstream of the River Arun.
-
Prior to 2001, treated sewage was discharged from Littlehampton Long Sea Outfall (3.5 km from the bathing water). In 2001, flows from Bognor and Littlehampton sewage works were diverted to a new sewage treatment works at Ford for treatment and then discharged out of Littlehampton Long Sea Outfall. 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.
-
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 75% of visits. The bathing water 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 noted at this site. 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 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.
-
2024 Bathing Water Profile for Littlehampton
-
2024-09-30
-
2024-05-01
-
The River Arun, which enters the sea just to the west of the bathing water can be a source of reduced water quality after heavy rainfall.
-
There is a high standard of treatment at the sewage treatment works that discharges 3.5 km from the shore of this bathing water. This sewage treatment works 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 Littlehampton for the four year (2020-2023) assessment period where data is available, sewage debris was not assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable, but was observed as being present on 2% of visits. Litter was assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable for 2% of visits, with 34% of visits noting the presence of litter. Tarry residue was not noted at this site.
-
The bathing water is situated in a low lying area. The natural drainage (hydrological) catchment surrounding the bathing water is approximately 100,000 hectares. This includes the catchment of the River Arun which enters the sea just to the west of the bathing water. The area immediately behind the bathing water is urban but most of the wider surrounding area is predominantly rural (arable and managed grassland).
-
Littlehampton
-
Littlehampton
-
Sampling point at Littlehampton
-
503060
-
50.80227443041339
-
-0.538835647163759
-
101320
-
Sampling point at Littlehampton
-
-
-
p152 dT23 h59 m59 s
-
2024 05 01 t00:00:00
-
2024-05-01T00:00:00
-
-
2024 09 30 t23:59:59
-
2024-09-30T23:59:59
-
-
-
2024 15500:1
-
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.
-
Discharges from sewage treatment works have improved substantially in England since the 1980s.
-
