The bathing water is situated on the south coast in West Sussex, backed by an urban
area. The bathing water is primarily a shingle beach but with gently shelving sand
exposed at low water. Groynes and boulder breakwaters protect the beach. Above the
bathing water is a line of beach huts with a large, grassed area behind, and a promenade.
Within the vicinity of the beach, approximately 525 metres west of the bathing water,
there is one storm overflow called Sea Lane storm overflow which is released through
a surface water outfall. Discharges occur when heavy rainfall overwhelms the sewerage
system but are designed not to affect bathing water compliance.
There are two surface water outfalls east (170 m) and west (525 m) of the bathing
water.
In 1996 sewage from the Worthing area was transferred to Worthing sewage treatment
works and received primary treatment before being discharged via a long sea outfall
6.4 km from the bathing water. In 2002 Worthing sewage treatment works was upgraded
and the effluent is further treated before being discharged through the long sea outfall.
Prior to 2001, treated sewage was discharged from Littlehampton Long Sea Outfall (7.5
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.
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.
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.
There is a high standard of treatment at the two sewage treatment works discharges
6.4 km and 7.5 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.
The beach is situated in a flat-lying coastal plain without a significant river network
in the immediate vicinity of the bathing water. The natural drainage (hydrological)
catchment surrounding the bathing water is approximately 14km2. The catchment is mainly
urban and covers most of Worthing town. Rainfall is drained from the town by a surface
water drainage network that discharge to the sea between the high and low water marks
via numerous outfalls. To the west of the bathing water there is a stream that is
drained via an outfall some 2km distant and another stream is 6km to the east.
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.