Chichester Harbour Conservancy - Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

Water Quality

Latest water quality results are shown on the Chichester District Council website.

Updates on future discharges will be circulated to sailing clubs and posted on this page in the Discharge History chart.

LATEST NEWS

MP Andrew Tyrie visited Chichester Harbour in January 2012 for an introduction to the work of the Conservancy and its scope. He met Tim Knight and Peter Taylor, both Conservancy members and the management team. The group briefed Mr Tyrie on the concerns of the Conservancy regarding water quality. Excessive storm discharges from the Water Treatment Works at Apuldram have an adverse effect on the quality of harbour water, an issue of great concern to many around the harbour. The discharges can cause weed to form dense mats on the mudflats preventing wading birds from being able to feed and can also be detrimental for sailors particularly in the Dell Quay area. Mr Tyrie agreed to support the work of the Conservancy and to consider how the best possible outcomes might be achieved

Siún Cranny, Director of Chichester Harbour Conservancy said, 'Mr Tyrie was very sympathetic towards these issues and by working with him, District Council and the other agencies involved, we hope to find feasible and long-term solutions. It is no small challenge to achieve an outcome which addresses the competing challenges which are faced but it is our responsibility to highlight this serious concern and to seek support. Mr Tyrie immediately engaged with the issue and we had a lively debate about how solutions might be found. We were delighted to welcome him and hope he will join us for a longer trip on the water in the warmer weather to enjoy the stunning views of this unique harbour'

DISCHARGE HISTORY

Record of discharges since 1 January 2011. Please note this is the best information available, the discharge may not have been continual between the dates shown.

See the archive page for discharge history from 1 April 2008.

Start Date / Time	Finish Date / Time	From
4 Aug 11 / 12:34	4 Aug 11 / 15:15	Apuldram
10 Mar 11 / 12:00	10 Mar 11 / 18:11	Apuldram
21 Feb 11 / 09:13	10 Mar 11 / 02:28	Apuldram
20 Feb 11 / 07:58	21 Feb 11 / 07:20	Apuldram
19 Feb 11 / 08:14	20 Feb 11 / 07:48	Apuldram
18 Feb 11 / 09:14	19 Feb 11 / 06:11	Apuldram
15 Feb 11 / 09:55	18 Feb 11 / 05:27	Apuldram
28 Jan 11 / 08:57	29 Jan 11 / 00:40	Apuldram
28 Jan 11 / 06:15	28 Jan 11 / 06:31	Apuldram
12 Jan 11 / 06:20	28 Jan 11 / 0613	Apuldram
11 Jan 11 / 08:56	12 Jan 11 / 02:18	Apuldram

MONITORING

Responsibility for monitoring harbour waters and consenting discharges into the harbour rests with the Environment Agency. The quality of the water in Chichester Harbour is not statutorily assessed as bathing water and is not therefore monitored in accordance with the EC Bathing Water Directive by the regulator.

While it is recognised that harbour waters are not designated as bathing waters and are unlikely to receive this designation, the level of exposure to harbour water experienced by some users closely matches that of bathers.

Chichester Harbour Conservancy and Chichester District Council in their role as public health authority have instigated a monitoring regime to measure the water quality in the harbour and compare it with the bathing water directive standards to allow harbour users to readily assess levels of risk.

Harbour users can now check the water quality at various sites around the harbour by using the Chichester District Council website.

DISCHARGE WARNINGS

There are three Waste Water Treatment Works (WWTW), at Apuldram, Bosham and Thornham, that discharge treated effluent into the harbour.

These WWTW have recently been upgraded so that all sewage now receives Ultra Violet and bacteriological treatment and nutrient stripping before it is discharged into the harbour. Since this work was completed on 1 April 2008 water quality monitoring has shown that the water quality in all parts of the harbour is consistently excellent (Guideline Standard) or good (Mandatory standard) measured against the European Bathing Water Directive.

However, when there are heavy storm water or high groundwater conditions the WWTW may not be able to cope with the volume of water entering the system and in these case diluted sewage which has only received primary treatment (removal of unsightly solids) may be discharged into the harbour. In these circumstances and depending on the volumes released and other factors, water quality may be reduced for the duration of the discharge and for about the next two to four days. Water quality, measured against the Bathing Water Directive, may be poor for this period particularly in the vicinity of the discharge point.

When water quality is poor, measured against the Bathing Water Directive, the advice from Chichester District Council, the Environmental Health Authority, is: Full immersion is not recommended and all cuts, open wounds and abrasions should be covered with a waterproof dressing. Normal hygiene measures are encouraged where physical exposure to water occurs. (eg wash hands before eating).

The telemetry at the WWTW records actual storm water discharges - it is not an ‘early warning alert'. Nonetheless, the Conservancy has decided that harbour users should be advised when storm water discharges have occurred. This will be done by informing sailing clubs and posting the information on this page in the Discharge History chart (top of this page).

The Conservancy gives this advice in the context that water quality in the harbour is now better than it has been for many years and there have been no recorded incidents of fatalities in the harbour caused by poor water quality and there is currently no medical evidence linking water quality in the harbour to illness.

 

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