2024 Bathing Water Profile for Portland Harbour Castle Cove
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Portland Harbour Castle Cove is in Portland Harbour on the Dorset coast. It is a sheltered sandy cove, approximately 220 metres wide, backed by cliffs.
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Dorset
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Dorset
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There is an emergency/storm overflow from the Castle Cove pumping station, that discharges to Portland Harbour 130 metres from the Environment Agency monitoring point. The operation of the overflow can lead to a drop in water quality at the bathing water. This bathing water is included in the Surfers Against Sewage “Safer Seas Service”. This service can alert you to Combined Storm Sewer Overflow discharges via a phone App and in addition, it includes the Environment Agency Pollution Risk Forecast warnings where they are available. Further details of the service can be found at - http://www.sas.org.uk/safer-seas-service/
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A resewerage programme in the Portland catchment, which included a pumping station and attenuation storage, was completed by Wessex Water in 1996. Unsatisfactory combined sewer overflows were improved by attenuation storage in 1996. Improvements to the storm overflows at Wyke Regis (Doncaster Road), and Doncaster Road were completed by April 2002.
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For the three year (2021-2023) assessment period where data is available, seaweed (macroalgae) was assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable for 8% of visits, with 88% of visits noting the presence of seaweed (macroalgae). This bathing water does not have a history of large amounts of seaweed (macro algae).
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For the three year (2021-2023) assessment period where data is available, phytoplankton (microscopic algae) was assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable for 2% of visits, with 3% of visits noting the presence of phytoplankton (microscopic algae). 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. 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.
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This bathing water is subject to short term pollution procedures. The Environment Agency makes a daily pollution risk forecast at this site based on the effects of rain, tide and wind on bathing water quality. These factors affect the levels of bacteria that get washed into the sea from livestock, sewage and urban drainage via rivers and streams and how they disperse. When these factors combine to make short term pollution likely we issue a pollution risk warning on this website and the beach manager will display a sign advising against bathing at the bathing water. After a short term pollution event, levels of bacteria typically return to normal after a day or so but it’s possible to have several warning days in a row. Details of the work to reduce the sources of bacteria at this bathing water are detailed in this profile. In 2023 1 pollution risk warnings were issued for this bathing water. All bathing waters have the potential to be affected by a pollution incident and if this occurs a pollution risk warning will be issued with associated advice against bathing on this website.
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2024 Bathing Water Profile for Portland Harbour Castle Cove
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2024-09-30
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2024-05-01
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Sewage from the Weymouth and Portland area is treated at Weymouth sewage treatment works and discharges to the sea one kilometre offshore, west of Portland Harbour. The discharge is designed to protect water quality.
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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 Portland Harbour Castle Cove for the three year (2021-2023) assessment period where data is available, sewage debris was not noted at this site. Litter was assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable for 5% of visits, with 92% of visits noting the presence of litter. Tarry residue was not noted at this site.
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The catchment surrounding Portland Harbour Castle Cove is approximately seven hectares. Land use is urban and there are no streams which drain directly to the beach.
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Portland Harbour Castle Cove
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Portland Harbour Castle Cove
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Sampling point at Portland Harbour Castle Cove
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367560
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50.59630543390464
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-2.459686889130563
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77500
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Sampling point at Portland Harbour Castle Cove
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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 20800:1
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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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