2024 Bathing Water Profile for Marazion
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Mounts Bay is on the south coast of Cornwall. There are four designated bathing waters located around the bay - Wherry Town, Penzance, Long Rock and Marazion. All the beaches are sandy resorts backed by sea defences. Marazion beach is approximately 880 metres wide. The Red River flows onto the centre of Marazion beach.
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Cornwall
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Cornwall
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The Environment Agency have carried out additional catchment monitoring throughout the Penzance/Marazion area of Mounts Bay alongside the Environment Agency routine bathing water monitoring. The Environment Agency have used a DNA tracing technique to help us identify whether sources of faecal pollution are animal or human with surveys carried out in wet and dry weather conditions. These studies have shown that water quality in the Marazion River and Marazion bathing water is generally excellent but that it may become reduced during periods of wet weather. DNA tracing has indicated that the impacts during wet weather are predominantly animal in origin, probably due to runoff from farmland throughout the river catchment.
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In the past there were a number of private discharges and combined sewer overflows (CSO) that affected this bathing water, as well as the general contamination of Penzance Bay from numerous sources. The sewage treatment scheme for Penzance and St Ives was completed by South West Water in early 1995. The scheme included extensive sewerage, improvements to intermittent discharges and the removal of untreated sewage discharges. Wastewater from St Ives is pumped to Hayle sewage treatment works (STW), where it receives secondary treatment before its discharge through a 2.7km long sea outfall west of Godrevy Head. The Hayle STW was enlarged and upgraded in 1995 and again in 2000. In 1998, further improvements were also made to CSOs at Long Rock, and Marazion pumping station CSO was sealed in November 2001.
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The urban area of Marazion immediately behind the beach is served by a combined (surface and sewer) system. There are no outfalls from the system onto the beach.
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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 59% of visits, with 39% 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 carried out an investigation of the sewerage network close to the sea front using CCTV. Further investigations are required to pinpoint any issues. 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, wind and seasonality 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 7 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 Marazion
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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 Red River flows into the sea at this beach. The Environment Agency have monitored the Red River since 1986 and found that is can affect water quality during or after heavy rainfall.
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Sewage from the Penzance area is pumped to Hayle STW for treatment, and discharges to the sea off the North Cornwall coast. 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 Marazion 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 5% of visits, with 62% of visits noting the presence of litter. Tarry residue was not noted at this site.
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The catchment surrounding Marazion is approximately 3,370 hectares. The Red River (also known as Marazion River) flows through a shallow valley to Mounts Bay at Marazion Beach. The Red River is approximately 10 kilometres (km) (27.5km long including major tributaries) and rises from the rolling lowland in the northwest of the catchment. The northern parts of the catchment are mostly improved and acid grassland. The south facing slopes near Marazion contain the only Grade 1 agricultural land in Cornwall and are used for vegetable and horticultural production. Most of the remaining farmland is used for dairy and beef farming, with around 20 farms. The catchment also contains the urban areas of Marazion, Goldsithney and Crowlas. The Marazion Marsh Special Protection Area (SPA) and Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) is located just behind the beach.
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Marazion
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Marazion
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Sampling point at Marazion
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151317
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50.1264952951233
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-5.480789644537383
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30962
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Sampling point at Marazion
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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 30200:1
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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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