The bathing water is situated on the south coast between Pagham Harbour and Selsey
Bill in West Sussex. The bathing water faces southeast and is primarily a groyned,
shingle beach but with some sand exposed at low water. To the north of the bathing
water there are underwater rock formations which are exposed at low water. A promenade
sits above much of the beach with the town of Selsey immediately to the south.
There is a storm overflow 300m to the south of the bathing water called East Beach
Road storm overflow. Also, the Bognor Long Sea Outfall (6 km offshore) is now a storm
overflow. 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 (6 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 (18km from the bathing water). The Bognor outfall was
retained solely for storm discharges.
As part of Southern Water’s Bathing Water Enhancement Programme (from 2016 to 2019),
Southern Water have worked with partners and delivered solutions to improve bathing
water quality.
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 46% of visits. 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 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.
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.
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 Selsey 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 37% of visits. Tarry residue was not noted at
this site.
The bathing water is situated in the south of a low lying area known as the Manhood
Peninsula. The natural drainage (hydrological) catchment surrounding the bathing water
is approximately 170 hectares. Two km to the north is Pagham Harbour and most drainage
in the surrounding area enters the harbour via Broad Rife. The adjacent town of Selsey
is immediately to the south and the surrounding area is predominantly arable or 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.