2024 Bathing Water Profile for Cotswold Country Park and Beach
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The bathing water is in Keynes Lake 32 in the Cotswolds Water Park near Somerford Keynes. The beach is 140 metres long with 6080 square metres of water set aside for bathing. The gradient of the beach is very shallow and the maximum depth of water is approximately 1.5 metres in the bathing season. The entire lake has a gravel base and the beach is covered with soft yellow sand.
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Cotswold District
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Gloucestershire
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The Environment Agency have carried out an investigation to identify sources of pollution into the bathing water. The Environment Agency identified geese living on the lake and a nearby toilet block as potential issues.
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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 not assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable, but was observed as being present on 2% of visits. Phytoplankton (microscopic algae) increase in number at certain times of the year. This process is known as a phytoplankton bloom. If the water is discoloured, or a foam is present, this may be an algal bloom and 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 Cotswold Country Park and Beach
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2024-09-30
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2024-05-01
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The lake is predominantly groundwater fed with no inputs from streams or rivers.
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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 Cotswold Country Park and Beach for the four year (2020-2023) assessment period where data is available, sewage debris was not noted at this site. Litter was assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable for 2% of visits, with 43% of visits noting the presence of litter. Tarry residue was not noted at this site.
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The main farming undertaken in the area is arable. Current farming practices are not thought to pose a risk to the quality of the bathing water.
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Following the Environment Agency investigation, the owner’s actions addressed the potential problems the Environment Agency identified with the geese population and the toilet block. However, should any further bathing water quality concerns arise, the Environment Agency will work with the owner to investigate and remediate the issues.
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The lake is a disused gravel pit which has filled in with groundwater. The lake is connected to another lake to the north by a pipe designed to control the water levels. There are no other nearby areas of surface water within the catchment area which are thought to be a source of pollution. The majority of the land in the catchment is agricultural, with several small villages in the immediate area. As well as having a bathing beach, the lake is also used for sailing and fishing.
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Cotswold Country Park and Beach
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Cotswold Country Park and Beach
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Sampling point at Cotswold Country Park and Beach
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402800
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51.66097999799158
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-1.960909719962519
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195800
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Sampling point at Cotswold Country Park and Beach
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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 11760:1
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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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