2024 Bathing Water Profile for Widemouth Sand
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Widemouth Sand is on the north coast of Cornwall. It is a large sandy beach resort, approximately 560 metres wide, backed by low cliffs. There are rock pools and a small stream that flows onto the beach.
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Cornwall
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Cornwall
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There is an emergency/storm overflow from the Madeira Drive pumping station that discharges 270m upstream of the beach to the small stream in the village of Widemouth Bay. The operation of the overflow can lead to a temporary 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 sewage at Bude was discharged without treatment through a short outfall off Compass Point. The South West Water sewage treatment scheme for Bude, which provides primary treatment and a one kilometre long sea outfall, was completed in 1993. The Bude sewage treatment works (STW) was upgraded with secondary treatment by the end of 2000. Improvements to the combined storm overflow (CSO) at Stratton pumping station were also completed at that time. Storm overflow event duration monitoring (EDM) was installed at the Madeira Drive pumping station by April 2011. Storm overflow event duration monitoring (EDM) was installed at The Strand, Nanny Moores, Summerleaze Car Park, and at the Stratton and Castle pumping stations by April 2011. EDM was installed at the Barn Orchard Cottages pumping station in March 2016. EDM is to be installed at Broadclose Farm CSO by September 2021. Improvements to 7 emergency/storm overflows within the nearby Summerleaze and Crooklets bathing water catchments are due for completion by September 2022
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The car park at the beach has been fitted with a sustainable urban drainage (SUDs) system which filters water before it enters the Widemouth Stream.
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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 77% of visits. 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 occur in noticeable quantities from time to time.
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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 4% 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.
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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 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 4 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 Widemouth Sand
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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 is a very small stream flowing onto Widemouth Sand from Widemouth Bay village which can affect water quality after heavy rainfall.
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The outfall from Bude STW discharges into the sea off Compass Point approximately four kilometres north of Widemouth Sand bathing water. This discharge is 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 Widemouth Sand 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 4% of visits, with 37% of visits noting the presence of litter. Tarry residue was not noted at this site.
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There are two farms in the catchment which are used for livestock. During and after periods of heavy rainfall, runoff to the stream from agricultural land is greatly increased, and the quality of the bathing water can be reduced.
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There are several caravan parks, hotels, and a car park at the southern end of the beach, 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 at present. If any concerns arise, the Environment Agency will investigate and request immediate remedial action from those responsible.
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The catchment surrounding Widemouth Sand is approximately 370 hectares. There is an unnamed stream at the northern end of the beach, which is approximately two and a half kilometres long. Land use is entirely rural with two farms and a holiday village.
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Widemouth Sand
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Widemouth Sand
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Sampling point at Widemouth Sand
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219840
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50.793089011925076
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-4.55763724415553
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102400
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Sampling point at Widemouth Sand
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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 33400:1
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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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