Once one of the busiest ports in England, Deal is now a small resort on the Kent coast
about 14 km north east from Dover. There is a long pier, seafront promenade and a
pebble beach with small fishing boats pulled up on the shingle. Along the seafront
there are a range of facilities.
There is one storm overflow called Deal pumping station approximately 1.8 km north
of the bathing water, and also storm overflows in the River Stour estuary, that can
occur when heavy rainfall overwhelms the sewerage system. These outfalls are designed
not to affect bathing water compliance. This bathing water could also be affected
by discharges from two surface water outlets to the south of the bathing water.
Local storm overflows were improved and sewage flows transferred to the new Weatherlees
sewage treatment works prior to the 1995 bathing season. 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 45% of visits.
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 assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable, but
was observed as being present on 12% of visits. Phytoplankton (microscopic algae)
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.
Water from the Stour estuary circulates in Pegwell Bay and can reach the beach. Within
the Stour's catchment there are inputs from storm overflows that can occur when heavy
rainfall overwhelms the sewerage system. These outfalls are designed not to affect
bathing water compliance. In response to heavy rainfall, runoff from agricultural
land could also affect the water quality in the Stour estuary.
Environment Agency samplers make observations of litter present on the beach at every
visit, this includes assessments of sewage debris, litter and tar. At Deal Castle
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 64% of visits. Tarry residue was not noted at
this site.
There are no natural surface water courses that flow to the coast in the local area,
though the Stour catchment of about 823 square kilometres drains into Pegwell bay
about 10 km to the north. The Stour catchment includes Ashford, Canterbury, Sandwich
and much of Deal.
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.