The bathing water is situated on the south coast in West Sussex, adjacent to the town
of Felpham. The bathing water is predominantly a groyned, shingle beach but with sand
and rock pools exposed at low water. A footpath sits above the beach. The Aldingborne
Rife crosses the beach at the western end of the bathing water.
Within the vicinity of the beach there are 2 surface water outfalls. Reduced water
quality may persist in the area adjacent to the outfalls for some time after rainfall
has occurred. There are further surface water drains over a km to the east and west
of the bathing water. There are several storm overflows that discharge into the Aldingbourne
Rife. Discharges occur when heavy rainfall overwhelms the sewerage system but are
designed not to affect bathing water compliance.
Prior to 2001, treated sewage was discharged from Bognor long sea outfall (4.5 km
from the bathing water). In 2001, flows from Bognor Long Sea Outfall were diverted
to a new sewage treatment works at Ford for further treatment and then discharged
out of Littlehampton Long Sea Outfall (10km from the bathing water). The Bognor outfall
was retained solely for storm discharges. In 1998 and 2003, improvements were made
to several storm overflows that discharge into the surface water system. In 2000 maintenance
of the foul sewer system was undertaken and some misconnections identified and repaired.
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.
In 2000, bacteriological tracer surveys showed that the bathing water can be affected
by contaminated flows from the Aldingbourne Rife. The contaminated surface water drainage
system into the Rife was subsequently investigated.
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 73% of
visits noting the presence of seaweed (macroalgae). 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 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, wind, sunlight 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 19 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.
The Aldingbourne Rife inputs into the western end of the bathing water. Water quality
is likely to be reduced in the adjacent area where the Rife enters the sea.
There are two treated sewage treatment works outfalls that discharge into the Aldingbourne
Rife. Lidsey sewage treatment works is 5km upstream from the bathing water and Tangmere
sewage treatment works is 9km upstream. Both are 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 Felpham 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.
The bathing water is situated in a low lying area. The natural drainage (hydrological)
catchment surrounding the bathing water is approximately 9000 hectares. This includes
the catchment of the Aldingbourne Rife that drains most of the wider surrounding area
which is predominantly rural (arable and managed grassland). There are several surface
water outfalls onto the beach which drain the urban area immediately behind the 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.
