2024 Bathing Water Profile for Porthcurno
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Porthcurno is on the south coast of Cornwall. It is a rural sandy beach, approximately 130 metres wide, set in a picturesque cove backed by cliffs. There is a small stream that flows onto the beach and disperses over the sand.
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Cornwall
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Cornwall
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There is an emergency/storm overflow from the Porthcurno Valley pumping station, that discharges 170m from the Environment Agency monitoring point. 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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The South West Water sewage treatment scheme for Sennen, which provides secondary treatment, was completed in 2008. Storm overflow event duration monitoring (EDM) was installed at the Porthcurno pumping station by April 2011.
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For the three year (2021-2023) assessment period where data is available, seaweed (macroalgae) was assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable for 4% of visits, with 68% 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.
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For the three year (2021-2023) 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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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.
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2024 Bathing Water Profile for Porthcurno
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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 small stream which flows onto this beach which can affect water quality during and after heavy rainfall.
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Sewage from Porthcurno is pumped to the Sennen sewage treatment works (STW), and discharges to the sea nine kilometres northwest of Porthcurno bathing water. The outfall from a private sewer discharges treated sewage to the sea 170m from the Environment Agency monitoring point . These discharges are 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 Porthcurno for the three year (2021-2023) 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 36% of visits. Tarry residue was not noted at this site.
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There are two farms in the catchment. 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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The catchment surrounding Porthcurno is approximately 113 hectares. The stream which enters the sea at the beach is approximately 1.2 kilometres (km) long and flows through the village of Porthcurno to the beach. The valley is short and steep and the small cove is surrounded by steep cliffs. The steep catchment means rain runs off rapidly into the stream. A smaller stream about 300m enters the bay at Percella Cove about 200m east of the Environment Agency monitoring point. Land use is mostly arable with only one or two farms. The small village of Porthcurno is located centrally and the Minack open air theatre is located on the cliffs just to the west of the cove. The coastal cliffs have been designated as Treen cliff Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and the catchment is in the Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
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Porthcurno
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Porthcurno
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Sampling point at Porthcurno
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138740
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50.04289896158366
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-5.650440231086796
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22250
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Sampling point at Porthcurno
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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 30600:1
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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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