2024 Bathing Water Profile for Harlyn Bay
-
Harlyn Bay is on the north coast of Cornwall. It is a large fairly remote sandy beach, approximately 770 metres wide, backed by sand dunes and cliffs. The Harlyn Stream flows across the beach. Harlyn Bay is a very popular family and surfing beach and is suitable for novice surfers.
-
Cornwall
-
Cornwall
-
There is an emergency/storm overflow from the Harlyn Bay pumping station, that discharges to the Harlyn Stream 70m upstream of Harlyn Bay bridge. The operation of the overflow can lead to a temporary drop in water quality in the Harlyn Stream and Harlyn Bay 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/
-
The South West Water sewage treatment scheme known as the Trevone Scheme collects sewage from the various settlements around the Camel Estuary. It is split into two schemes centred on the Porthilly sewage treatment works (STW) (East Bank Scheme), and a works at Trecerus near Padstow (West Bank Scheme). Trecerus STW was completed for the 1997 bathing season with chemically assisted sedimentation and ultraviolet (UV) disinfection for sewage from St Merryn, Trevone and Padstow. Improvements were also made to the sewerage in Padstow, St Merryn, Harlyn and Trevone at that time. The treatment was subsequently upgraded to full secondary treatment and UV disinfection by April 2004. Storm overflow event duration monitoring (EDM) was installed at the Harlyn Bay pumping station by April 2011.
-
The Environment Agency have regularly inspected and sampled surface water outfalls.
-
For the four year (2020-2023) assessment period where data is available, seaweed (macroalgae) was assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable for 3% of visits, with 86% of visits noting the presence of seaweed (macroalgae). The bathing water can become covered with large amounts of seaweed, depending on tides and the weather. This bathing water does not have a history of large amounts of seaweed, but that it can be noticeable from time to time.
-
For the four year (2020-2023) assessment period where data is available, phytoplankton (microscopic algae) was not assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable, but was observed as being present on 2% of visits. 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.
-
There are no active pollution risk forecasts made at this bathing water. However any bathing water has the potential to be affected by a pollution incident and if this occurs a pollution risk warning with associated advice against bathing will be issued on this website.
-
2024 Bathing Water Profile for Harlyn Bay
-
2024-09-30
-
2024-05-01
-
Streams and rivers are typically affected by human sewage, animal slurry and runoff from roads. The Harlyn Stream flows onto this beach. The Environment Agency have periodically monitored the stream and found that water quality is temporarily worse after heavy rainfall.
-
The outfall from the Trecerus STW discharges to the sea approximately 1.3km to the northwest of this bathing water. This discharge is disinfected and designed to protect bathing water quality.
-
Environment Agency samplers make observations of litter present on the beach at every visit, this includes assessments of sewage debris, litter and tar. At Harlyn Bay 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 48% of visits noting the presence of litter. Tarry residue was not noted at this site.
-
There are approximately 15 farms in the catchment, most of which are arable or used for livestock. During and after periods of heavy rainfall, runoff to the Harlyn Stream from agricultural land is greatly increased, and the quality of the bathing water can be reduced.
-
The catchment surrounding Harlyn Bay is approximately 1,125 hectares. The Harlyn Stream is approximately six kilometres (km) (9.2km long including tributaries) and flows from south to north through farmland before reaching the beach. The catchment is gently sloping and rural, with around 15 farms in a patchwork of improved grassland and arable land. Nearby are the villages of St Merryn and Harlyn and at least two caravan sites. The catchment lies within part of the Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
-
Harlyn Bay
-
Harlyn Bay
-
Sampling point at Harlyn Bay
-
187720
-
50.54027976933611
-
-4.997311029899912
-
75460
-
Sampling point at Harlyn Bay
-
-
-
p152 dT23 h59 m59 s
-
2024 05 01 t00:00:00
-
2024-05-01T00:00:00
-
-
2024 09 30 t23:59:59
-
2024-09-30T23:59:59
-
-
-
2024 32900:1
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
Discharges from sewage treatment works have improved substantially in England since the 1980s.
-
