2012 Bathing Water Profile for Weston-super-Mare Sand Bay
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Weston-super-Mare Sand Bay is on the Somerset coast overlooking the Bristol Channel. It is a sand and shingle beach resort, approximately five kilometres wide, backed by sand dunes. There is a saltmarsh at the northern end, and Sand Point Headland is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
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North Somerset
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In the past this bathing water was affected by sewage discharges from the Weston-super-Mare sewage treatment works (STW) at the Black Rock outfall, and from Avonmouth STW. The Wessex Water sewage treatment scheme for Weston-super-Mare, which provides secondary treatment and ultraviolet (UV) disinfection, was completed in 2000. Additional improvements were made to the sewerage system to reduce the frequency of storm and emergency overflows, particularly at the Black Rock outfall. Secondary treatment was provided at Avonmouth STW in 2000. Thirteen storm overflows discharging to the Avon Estuary were improved in early 2003, and increased secondary treatment capacity and storm storage was provided at Avonmouth STW by March 2004.
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This bathing water does not have a history of large amounts of seaweed (macroalgae).
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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.
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2012 Bathing Water Profile for Weston-super-Mare Sand Bay
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The outfall from Weston-super-Mare STW discharges to the sea at Black Rock five kilometres south of Sand Bay. This discharge is disinfected and designed to protect bathing water quality.
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The catchment surrounding Weston-super-Mare Sand Bay is approximately 24,300 hectares, and includes the River Axe and its tributaries the Cheddar Yeo and Lox Yeo. These streams rise from limestone springs on the Mendip Hills at Wookey Hole Caves, and flow through the Somerset Levels and Moors to the sea in Weston Bay just north of Brean Down. The rivers are interconnected in several places by drainage channels (known locally as rhynes) controlled by sluices, forming a very complex artificial drainage system. The River Axe is also controlled by a sluice gate. The sluices affect the amount of freshwater entering the sea from the River Axe. The majority of the land is used for large scale agriculture, with more than 50 farms.
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Weston-super-Mare Sand Bay
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Weston-super-Mare Sand Bay
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Sampling point at Weston-super-Mare Sand Bay
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332838
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51.36447617689369
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-2.966090885973957
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163267
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Sampling point at Weston-super-Mare Sand Bay
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2012:1
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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 and Wales 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’s role to drive improvement of water quality at bathing waters that are at risk of failing European 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 and Wales since the 1980s.
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