2024 Bathing Water Profile for Compton Bay

http://environment.data.gov.uk/data/bathing-water-profile/ukj3400-17400/2024:1

  • bathing water description
    Compton Bay is a rural beach on the south west coast of the Isle of Wight. From the foot of the cliffs the beach shelves gently and consists mostly of sand. At high tide the sea covers most of the beach. The beach is popular for surf sports.
  • controller name
    Isle of Wight
  • county name
    Isle of Wight
  • ea investigations statement
    Preventative action has stopped a cess pit at Hanover Point car park overflowing directly above surface water outlet which runs across the beach. There have been no further problems since the Environment Agency investigation.
  • macro algae statement
    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 76% of visits. 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.
  • misconnections statement
    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.
  • phytoplankton statement
    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 4% of visits. Microscopic algae (phytoplankton) 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.
  • pollution risk forecast statement
    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.
  • pollution risk forecasting
    false
  • pref label
    2024 Bathing Water Profile for Compton Bay
  • sampling frequency
    10
  • season finish date
    2024-09-30
  • season start date
    2024-05-01
  • streams rivers statement
    There is no evidence of any significant effects on bathing water compliance from the streams that reach the sea near the beach.
  • version string
    1
  • visible pollution statement
    Environment Agency samplers make observations of litter present on the beach at every visit, this includes assessments of sewage debris, litter and tar. At Compton Bay 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 not assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable, but was observed as being present on 89% of visits. Tarry residue was not noted at this site.
  • zoi description
    The natural drainage (hydrological) catchment surrounding the bathing water is about 840 hectares. The chalk and sandstone catchment slopes steeply. The majority of the land in the catchment is arable agricultural downland with some wooded areas.
  • bathing water

    Compton Bay

  • local authority
    Isle of Wight
  • season interval

    p152 dT23 h59 m59 s

  • source
    row=0193
  • standard language collection

    2024 17400:1

    • algae general statement
      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.
    • eso outfalls general statement
      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.
    • local authority general statement
      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.
    • pollution management general statement
      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.
    • stw outfalls general statement
      Discharges from sewage treatment works have improved substantially in England since the 1980s.
  • web res image
    ukj3400 17400 1 webres.jpg

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