2024 Bathing Water Profile for Poldhu Cove
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Poldhu Cove is on the south coast of Cornwall. It is a small sandy cove, approximately 250 metres wide, backed by sand dunes. 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 carried out additional monitoring in the Poldhu Stream in 2010, and found that diffuse inputs can affect the bathing water quality during wet weather. Investigations have shown that there is a risk of agricultural pollution impacting bathing water quality.
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The South West Water scheme for The Lizard sewage treatment works (STW), which provides secondary treatment and ultraviolet (UV) disinfection, was completed in September 2005. Sewage from the Mullion catchment is pumped to The Lizard STW for treatment, and discharges to the east of Lizard Point.
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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 58% of visits, with 42% 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 four year (2020-2023) assessment period where data is available, phytoplankton (microscopic algae) was assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable for 2% of visits, with 0% 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, wind and sunlight 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 Poldhu Cove
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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. The Poldhu Stream flows across this beach. The Environment Agency have monitored the stream between 1990 and 2014, and 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 Poldhu Cove 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 21% of visits, with 62% of visits noting the presence of litter. Tarry residue was not noted at this site.
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There are six farms in the catchment, used for dairy and beef livestock. During and after periods of heavy rainfall, runoff to the Poldhu Stream from agricultural areas is greatly increased, and the quality of the bathing water may be reduced.
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The catchment surrounding Poldhu Cove is approximately 1,250 hectares. The Poldhu Stream is approximately five and a half kilometres (km) (11.8km long including tributaries) and enters the sea at the bathing water. The top of the catchment is gently sloping to the west with steeper valley sides in the middle and lower reaches of the stream. The steep slopes in the lower catchment mean rain runs off rapidly into the stream. Land use is agricultural, with around six farms. There is a patchwork of arable, improved grassland and woodland with a large area of natural heath land at the top of the catchment which forms part of the Lizard Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and Goonhilly Downs Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The catchment is in the Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
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Poldhu Cove
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Poldhu Cove
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Sampling point at Poldhu Cove
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166550
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50.03353543801929
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-5.261297725976499
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19920
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Sampling point at Poldhu 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 29500:1
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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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