Bournemouth Boscombe Pier forms part of the 15 kilometre coastline of Poole Bay on
the Dorset coast. It is a sandy beach resort, approximately one kilometre wide, backed
by the promenade. It also has a pier, restaurants, and an artificial surf reef.
There is an overflow to sea from the Boscombe No.1 pumping station approx. 600m South
of the Environment Agency monitoring point. The operation of the overflow can lead
to a drop in bathing water quality.
This bathing water is included in the Surfers Against Sewage “Safer Seas Service”.
This service can alert you to Combined Storm Sewer Overflow discharges via a phone
App and in addition, it includes the Environment Agency Pollution Risk Forecast warnings
where they are available. Further details of the service can be found at - http://www.sas.org.uk/safer-seas-service/
In the past the main water company assets affecting this bathing water were from four
storm overflows from the tunnel sewer along Bournemouth seafront. These overflows
were Hengistbury Head, Bournemouth No 1, Boscombe Pier and Fisherman's Walk. Improvements
were made to Fisherman's Walk by Wessex Water in 1993. Hengistbury Head pumping station
(PS) and combined sewer overflow (CSO), and Boscombe Pier CSO were improved in early
1999. Bournemouth No.1 PS and CSO were improved in June 1999.
Improvements to the treatment capacity and storm storage at Holdenhurst Sewage Treatment
Works (STW) were completed in 1994. Ultraviolet (UV) disinfection and additional storm
storage was installed at Holdenhurst STW by April 2001.
Wrongly connected domestic waste water pipes can also affect the bathing water quality.
A significant amount of work was carried out by Wessex Water in the late 1990s to
correct misconnections to the surface water discharge to the west of Boscombe Pier.
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 69% of visits. This bathing water does not have a history of large amounts
of seaweed (macro algae).
For the four year (2020-2023) assessment period where data is available, phytoplankton
(microscopic algae) was assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable for 2% of
visits, with 3% of visits noting the presence of phytoplankton (microscopic algae).
Phytoplankton (microscopic algae) naturally increase in number at certain times of
the year. This process is known as a phytoplankton bloom. This bathing water does
not have a history of phytoplankton blooms.
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, 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.
In 2023 10 pollution risk warnings were issued for this bathing water.
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.
Sewage from the Bournemouth area is pumped to Holdenhurst (Bournemouth) STW. The outfall
from Holdenhurst STW discharges to the River Stour, north of Bournemouth. This discharge
is disinfected and 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. At Bournemouth
Boscombe Pier for the four year (2020-2023) assessment period where data is available,
sewage debris was not assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable, but was observed
as being present on 2% of visits. Litter was assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable
for 11% of visits, with 82% of visits noting the presence of litter. Tarry residue
was not noted at this site.
The catchment surrounding Bournemouth Boscombe Pier is approximately 260 hectares.
There are no streams which drain directly to this beach and land use is urban.
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.