2024 Bathing Water Profile for Millendreath
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Millendreath beach is on the south coast of Cornwall. It is a remote sandy beach, approximately 650 metres wide, backed by cliffs and hills. A stream flows across the beach to the sea.
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Cornwall
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Cornwall
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The Environment Agency have periodically carried out additional stream monitoring alongside routine bathing water monitoring in both wet and dry weather conditions. The aim was to pinpoint pollution problems in the stream and the local sewerage infrastructure to improve bathing water quality. In 2022 the Environment Agency carried out additional catchment monitoring of St Martins Stream alongside routine bathing water monitoring. Site visits were also carried out to identify sources of bacteria to Millendreath bathing water. These investigations confirmed that the source of elevated bacteria was human and was entering the stream within the culverted section in the lower catchment, which discharges to sea near the bathing water. We are working closely with local businesses to identify the source of contamination within the culvert. Catchment monitoring will continue to identify any further problems caused by misconnections or private sewage treatment arrangements.
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There is an emergency/storm overflow from the Plaidy pumping station that discharges, 450m from the Environment Agency monitoring point. The operation of the overflow can lead to a temporary drop in bathing water quality.
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The area immediately to the west of the beach drains to Looe Sewage Treatment Works (STW). The sewage treatment scheme for Looe which provides secondary treatment and ultraviolet (UV) disinfection, was completed by South West Water in late 1998. The STW outfall discharges into the East Looe River, three and a half kilometres from the bathing water. Storm overflow event duration monitoring (EDM) was installed at Plaidy pumping station by April 2011.
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For the four year (2020-2023) assessment period where data is available, seaweed (macroalgae) was assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable for 29% of visits, with 72% 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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Wrongly connected domestic waste water pipes can also affect the bathing water quality. We have checked the local sewerage system for misconnections. We have worked with Cornwall County Council and South West Water to identify and rectify any problems when they arise. 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 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 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 Millendreath
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2024-09-30
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2024-05-01
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As part of their environment programme SWW is planning on carrying out further work in the area. An area of road is draining into the sewerage network upstream of Plaidy pumping station. This increases volume through our sewerage network in periods of rainfall and so SWW are evaluating how this can be removed to reduce storm overflows operating. We are aiming to complete this by 2025. The EA will be following up on STW issues at the holiday park in 2024 to ensure advice has been taken and completing checks on all wastewater assets to ensure compliance. In 2024 we wish to carry out an investigation to understand in detail, the sources of pollution and additional freshwater monitoring will be undertaken.
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The St Martins stream enters the sea at this beach. Environment Agency monitoring of the stream has found that water quality is temporarily worse during and after heavy rainfall.
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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 Millendreath 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 55% of visits noting the presence of litter. Tarry residue was not noted at this site.
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There are holiday parks which are not on the main sewerage system and have private sewage treatment arrangements. There is a private sewage treatment works serving a holiday park that discharges near the bathing water. This discharge is designed to protect bathing water quality. Wrongly connected waste water pipes can also affect the bathing water quality. The Environment Agency have checked the local sewerage system for misconnections. The Environment Agency have worked with holiday park owners to identify and rectify any problems. There are also two holiday parks that are not on the main sewerage system and have private sewage treatment arrangements. If any concerns arise, the Environment Agency will investigate and request immediate remedial action from those responsible.
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The catchment surrounding Millendreath is approximately 400 hectares. St Martins Stream is approximately two and a half kilometres (km) (6.2km long including tributaries). It flows through a wooded valley to the village of Millendreath and through an underground channel at the western side of the beach. The steep catchment means rain runs off rapidly into the stream. The catchment is mostly agricultural, with five or six farms. The rural areas are improved grassland and arable with heavily wooded steep sided valleys. Urban areas include the settlement of Millendreath which includes a holiday village. There are also a number of other holiday parks in the catchment.
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Millendreath
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Millendreath
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Sampling point at Millendreath
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226810
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50.36106704002505
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-4.436327857389018
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54080
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Sampling point at Millendreath
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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 26900:1
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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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