2024 Bathing Water Profile for Minehead Terminus
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Minehead Terminus is on the Somerset coast overlooking the Bristol Channel. It is a sand and shingle beach resort, approximately 2.6 kilometres wide, close to the town.
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Somerset West and Taunton
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Somerset
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There is an emergency/storm overflow from the Quay West pumping station, that discharges to the sea north of the harbour wall. There are storm overflows from the Blenheim Road and the Green Spot CSOs, that discharge through the same outfall to the sea north of the harbour wall. There is an emergency/storm overflow from the Minehead STW pumping station, that discharges to the sea two kilometres from the beach. The operation of the overflows can lead to a drop in bathing water quality. 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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In the past this bathing water was affected by a continuous discharge of sewage from Minehead sewage treatment works (STW), which was treated to a primary standard with disinfection by chlorination during the bathing season. The Wessex Water sewage treatment scheme for Minehead, which provides secondary treatment and ultraviolet disinfection, was completed in October 1999. Improvements were also made to the sewerage system to reduce the frequency of overflows at that time. Watchet sewage treatment works (STW) discharges four and a half kilometres east of the Environment Agency monitoring point at Blue Anchor. Emergency overflows and storm overflows in Watchet were improved by the end of 2001, and secondary treatment was installed at Watchet STW by the end of 2002. The storm outfall at Bilbrook was also improved at that time. The emergency overflows at Blenheim Road and Green Spot were improved by March 2002. The Environment Agency worked with Wessex Water to carry out a review of sewerage performance within the Blue Anchor area. Subsequent repairs and improvements to the sewerage infrastructure in 2010 have helped to further improve the bathing water quality.
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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 89% of visits. This bathing water does not have a history of large amounts of seaweed (macro algae).
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For the four year (2020-2023) assessment period where data is available, phytoplankton (microscopic algae) was not noted at this site. 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 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 13 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 Minehead Terminus
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2024-09-30
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2024-05-01
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Streams and rivers are typically affected by human sewage, animal slurry and runoff from roads. There are three streams which flow out to sea in the area. The Park Stream discharges 200 metres (m) west of the Environment Agency monitoring point, and the Summerwest and Duckpond streams discharge 700m to the east the Environment Agency monitoring point. The Environment Agency have monitored the Park and Duck Pond streams between 1995 and 2006, and found that water quality is worse during and after heavy rainfall.
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The outfall from Minehead STW, discharges to the sea two kilometres from the beach. This discharge is disinfected and designed to protect bathing 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 Minehead Terminus for the four year (2020-2023) assessment period where data is available, sewage debris was assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable for 2% of visits, with 5% of visits noting the presence of sewage debris. Litter was assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable for 2% of visits, with 72% of visits noting the presence of litter. Tarry residue was not noted at this site.
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The catchment surrounding Minehead Terminus is approximately 1,150 hectares. The Park, Summerwest and Duckpond streams enter the sea at the beach. The largest of the three streams is the Park Stream which is channelled underground through the town of Minehead, and branches out into the catchment for approximately five kilometres. The catchment is mostly agricultural, with less than five farms.
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Minehead Terminus
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Minehead Terminus
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Sampling point at Minehead Terminus
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297614
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51.20757155104795
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-3.467058970405523
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146397
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Sampling point at Minehead Terminus
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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 35000:1
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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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