2024 Bathing Water Profile for Hampstead Heath (Mens Pond)
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The Men's Pond is a former reservoir situated on the eastern side of Hampstead Heath. There is no beach, but there is a sunbathing area in the changing facilities. Access to the 18,290 square metre swimming area is via a 25 metre long platform.
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City and County of the City of London
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London
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The Environment Agency monitoring found occasional problems with faecal pollution in this bathing water, so in 2009 the Environment Agency introduced a DNA tracing technique that helps us identify whether the source was human or animal. This enables us to target further investigations and to identify appropriate courses of corrective action. Following reduced water quality results in 2009 and 2010 this technique was used, however findings were inconclusive.
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There are no known overflows from the sewerage system into the Men's Pond.
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The misconnection of foul drainage to surface water may potentially affect the water quality of the Men's pond. If the Environment Agency investigations indicate that reduced water quality is caused by misconnected foul drainage the Environment Agency will work with the local authorities and Thames Water to investigate and rectify the problem.
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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.
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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 29% of visits noting the presence of phytoplankton (microscopic algae). 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. If you observe a suspected bloom you are advised to not enter the water and to contact your local authority health contact for help and advice.
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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.
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2024 Bathing Water Profile for Hampstead Heath (Mens Pond)
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2024-09-30
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2024-05-01
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Most of the streams that feed the ponds on the eastern side of Hampstead Heath rise within one kilometre of the bathing water and the Environment Agency therefore consider them in any relevant investigations.
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There are no permitted discharges to the Men's Pond.
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Environment Agency samplers make observations of litter present on the beach at every visit, this includes assessments of sewage debris, litter and tar. At Hampstead Heath (Mens Pond) 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 25% of visits. Tarry residue was not noted at this site.
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The Environment Agency work with the bathing water operator to investigate and remediate any bathing water quality problems at the Men's Pond.
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The Men's Pond is fed by a series of six upstream ponds, which are in turn fed by several springs to the south of Kenwood House. The catchment is predominantly parkland consisting of woods and grassland, but also includes part of the urban area of Dartmouth Park.
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Hampstead Heath (Mens Pond)
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Hampstead Heath (Mens Pond)
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Sampling point at Hampstead Heath (Mens Pond)
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527870
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51.563342095736694
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-0.15662381451985
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186550
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Sampling point at Hampstead Heath (Mens Pond)
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p152 dT23 h59 m59 s
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2024 05 01 t00:00:00
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2024-05-01T00:00:00
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2024 09 30 t23:59:59
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2024-09-30T23:59:59
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2024 11920:1
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Discharges from sewage treatment works have improved substantially in England since the 1980s.
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