2019 Bathing Water Profile for Maenporth
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Maenporth is on the south coast of Cornwall. It is a remote, sheltered sandy beach, approximately 200 metres wide, surrounded by low hills.
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Cornwall
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Cornwall
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The Environment Agency carried out additional monitoring in the Maenporth Stream in 2013, to help make recommendations for further improvements to protect and improve the bathing water quality. DNA tracing techniques were used to determine if the faecal pollution in the stream is from human or ruminant sources. Results showed faecal pollution to be predominantly from ruminant sources. Investigations at the Pennance Mill Tidal Tank that discharges storm sewage to the Maenporth Stream approximately 1000m upstream of the bathing water showed no impact at the bathing water.
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There is an emergency/storm overflow from the Maenporth pumping station that discharges to the Maenporth Stream approximately 100m upstream of the bathing water. The operation of the overflow can lead to a temporary drop in water quality in the Maenporth Stream and Maenporth bathing water.
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The sewage treatment scheme for Falmouth was partially completed by South West Water in 1998. The scheme included the replacement of the untreated sewage discharges at Middle Point and Pennance Point with a 690m long outfall off Black Rock in Carrick Roads. Screened effluent was discharged through this outfall on the ebb tide only, using a storm sewage tunnel for tidal storage. The final scheme for Falmouth, which provides secondary treatment, sand filtration and ultraviolet (UV) disinfection for sewage from Falmouth and Flushing, was completed in 2000. The scheme also included the removal of the Severn Stars combined sewer overflow (CSO) at Flushing, and improvements to the CSOs at Mylor Bridge, and Market Street and Bake House Yard in the Penryn River in 2001.
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The Environment Agency have regularly inspected and sampled surface water outfalls.
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For the four year (2015-2018) assessment period where data is available, seaweed (macroalgae) was assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable for 8% of visits, with 87% 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. 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 (2015-2018) 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. Short term pollution is caused when heavy rainfall or high tides wash faecal material into the sea from livestock, sewage and urban drainage via rivers and streams. At this site the risk of encountering reduced water quality increases after rainfall and typically returns to normal after 1-3 days. The Environment Agency makes daily pollution risk forecasts based on rainfall and tidal patterns and will issue a pollution risk warning if high tides or heavy rainfall occurs to enable bathers to avoid periods of increased risk. The Environment Agency works to reduce the sources of this pollution through pollution prevention measures, work with agriculture and water companies. 0 warnings advising against swimming due to an increase risk of short term pollution were issued in 2018 for Maenporth bathing water. These warnings were issued because of the effects of heavy rain on the water quality.
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2019 Bathing Water Profile for Maenporth
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2019-09-30
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2019-05-01
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Streams and rivers are typically affected by human sewage, animal slurry and runoff from roads. The Maenporth Stream flows onto this beach. The Environment Agency have monitored the stream between 1986 and 2011, and found that water quality is temporarily worse during and after heavy rainfall.
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Sewage from the Maenporth catchment is pumped to Falmouth for treatment. The outfall from Falmouth STW discharges to the Carrick Roads five kilometres northeast of the bathing water. This discharge is disinfected and 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 Maenporth for the four year (2015-2018) assessment period where data is available, sewage debris was not noted at this site. Litter was not assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable, but was observed as being present on 47% of visits. Tarry residue was not noted at this site.
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There are around 20 small farms in the catchment, most of which are dairy, beef, and arable. During and after periods of heavy rainfall, runoff to the Maenporth Stream from agricultural land is greatly increased, and the quality of the bathing water can be reduced. Studies in 2013 showed that water quality can also be impacted by cattle watering during periods of dry weather. The Environment Agency and their partners work with farmers to minimise the effects of such events.
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There are caravan parks and hotels that are not on the main sewerage system and have private sewage treatment arrangements. The Environment Agency do not believe these are a source of pollution to the bathing water. If any concerns arise, the Environment Agency will investigate and request immediate remedial action from those responsible.
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The catchment surrounding Maenporth is approximately 860 hectares. The Maenporth Stream extends approximately five kilometres (km) to the north of the beach and is joined behind the beach to another smaller stream which extends approximately two kilometres to the west. The network of streams is approximately 11km in total. The Maenporth Stream is channelled underground at the beach. The upper catchment is fairly flat and then slopes gently to the coast from the northwest to the southeast. Land use is agricultural, with around 20 small farms, and a mixture of improved grassland and arable. The catchment includes the settlements of Budock Water and Mawnan Smith and includes at least three caravan sites. The catchment is in the Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), and is next to the Fal and Helford Special Area of Conservation (SAC).
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Maenporth
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Maenporth
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Sampling point at Maenporth
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178980
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50.12494280778024
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-5.093572395033213
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29570
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Sampling point at Maenporth
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p152 dT23 h59 m59 s
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2019 05 01 t00:00:00
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2019-05-01T00:00:00
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2019 09 30 t23:59:59
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2019-09-30T23:59:59
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2019 28800:1
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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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