The bathing water is situated on the south coast just north of Pagham Harbour in West
Sussex. The bathing water faces southeast and is primarily a shingle beach but with
some sand exposed at low water. Behind the bathing water is a line of beach houses.
There is a surface water outfall (Chanel View Outfall) 500m to the north of the bathing
water. Reduced water quality may persist in the area adjacent to the outfall for some
time after rainfall has occurred.
Prior to 2001, treated sewage was discharged from Bognor long sea outfall (3 km from
the bathing water). In 2001, flows from Bognor Long Sea Outfall were diverted to a
new sewage treatment works at Ford for treatment and then discharged out of Littlehampton
Long Sea Outfall (18km from the bathing water). The Bognor outfall was retained solely
for storm discharges.
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 1998, a low quality result was recorded for this bathing water. Follow up sampling
and tidal surveys failed to indicate a likely source given that the tidal conditions
did not implicate Bognor Long Sea Outfall.
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 61% 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 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.
No warnings were issued last season as this site is new to PRF
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.
Pagham sewage treatment works and Sidlesham sewage treatment works discharge treated
effluent into Pagham Harbour via Pagham Rife and Broad Rife respectively. Both are
5 km from the bathing water and these discharges are designed to present minimal risk
to 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 Pagham 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 27% of visits. Tarry residue was not noted at
this site.
The bathing water is situated in a low lying area adjacent to Pagham Harbour. There
are no streams within the beach area but there is a surface water outfall which drains
the urban area immediately behind the bathing water. The natural drainage (hydrological)
catchment into the bathing water is approximately 150 hectares. The entrance to Pagham
Harbour is situated over a kilometre to the southwest. The wider surrounding area
is predominantly rural (arable and managed grassland) and most streams and drainage
in this area either enters into the harbour or flows eastwards towards the Aldingbourne
Rife over 5km away.
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.