The bathing water is situated on the north Kent coast adjacent to the town of Westgate-on-Sea.
It is a gently shelving sandy beach which is totally tidal. A promenade sits above
the beach. There are extensive rock formations just offshore to the east and west
which are exposed at low water.
There is one surface water outfall 500m to the east of the bathing water (Roxborough
Road). Reduced water quality may persist in the area adjacent to the outfall for some
time after rainfall has occurred. There are storm overflows more than 1 km away to
the east. Discharges from these storm overflows occur when heavy rainfall overwhelms
the sewerage system but the overflows are designed to ensure that bathing water is
protected.
Prior to 2007, treated sewage was discharged from Margate long sea outfall 8 km from
the bathing water. Since 2007, flows from Margate long sea outfall, together with
flows from Broadstairs long sea outfall, have been transferred to Weatherlees sewage
treatment works for further treatment and UV disinfection. The treated sewage is then
discharged out of Margate long sea outfall.
In 1999 and 2000, a surface water discharge 500m to the east of the EC site in the
adjacent bay was investigated. Results showed that the discharge can occasionally
be contaminated during a wet weather. Further investigations up the surface water
drain did not indicate any problems with foul sewer misconnections.
For the four year (2020-2023) assessment period where data is available, seaweed (macroalgae)
was assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable for 24% 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. Thanet District Council have
been removing seaweed from the beach as part of beach management for several years.
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.
In 2023, Southern Water completed checks of the local sewerage infrastructure and
investigated misconnections.
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 5% 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.
The Environment Agency makes a daily pollution risk forecast at this site based on
the effects of rain, tide and wind 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 cause a temporary reduction in water quality, we will
issue a pollution risk warning on this website. Water quality will 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.
Environment Agency samplers make observations of litter present on the beach at every
visit, this includes assessments of sewage debris, litter and tar. At West Bay, Westgate
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 67% 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 130 hectares. This comprises
the local urban area and some of the wider surrounding area which is predominantly
rural (arable and managed grasslands).
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.
