2024 Bathing Water Profile for Readymoney Cove
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Readymoney Cove is at the mouth of the Fowey Estuary on the south coast of Cornwall. It is a remote sandy cove, approximately 70 metres wide, sheltered by tall cliffs.
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Cornwall
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Cornwall
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Between 2010 and 2019 the Environment Agency carried out additional catchment monitoring in the Fowey Estuary and Readymoney Stream alongside routine bathing water monitoring. This included sampling of the estuary and its tributaries during wet weather. The aim of this work was to pinpoint pollution problems and improve water quality at the bathing water. A DNA tracing technique helped identify whether sources of faecal pollution were animal or human. It showed pollution originated from sewerage and drainage issues in Fowey and diffuse and point source agricultural runoff to tributaries of the estuary in wet weather. Environment Agency officers visited local farms to ensure they were compliant with legislation, in order to reduce bacterial runoff from agriculture. In 2022 South West Water carried out an investigation to establish the impact of sewage discharges on bathing water quality, and what would be needed to reduce this. Catchment monitoring will continue in 2023 to further identify sources of bacteria and inform further remedial actions. The Environment Agency will be requesting information from the water company on storm overflow spills to evaluate these elevated bacteria samples from the bathing water and stream in the 2022 Bathing Season. The investigations also identified some leaking assets on the estuary at Fowey, most noticeably a leaking tidal flap at Fowey Town Quay, which have been addressed by SWW.
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There is an emergency/storm overflow from the pumping station at Readymoney Cove, that discharges 100m from the beach. There are also other emergency/storm overflows that discharge to the River Fowey Estuary in the Fowey/Polruan and Readymoney areas. The operation of the overflows can lead to a temporary drop in bathing water quality.
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The South West Water sewage treatment scheme for Fowey, which provides secondary treatment, was completed in 1996. The scheme also included some resewerage and improvements to combined sewer overflows. Fowey STW was upgraded with ultraviolet (UV) disinfection in 2002, and storm overflows at Caffa Mill pumping station (PS), Polruan PS, Whitehouse Point, Readymoney Road and Readymoney SPS were improved in 2003. The intermittent discharge at Town Quay was improved in 2004. Between 2011 and 2013 a number of actions were undertaken by South West Water to improve water quality in the River Fowey and Fowey Estuary. Improvements included sewer re-habilitation in Fowey to stop saline infiltration, surface water separation in Golant, UV disinfection of discharges from Golant STW and Lostwithiel STW, and a large new storm tank for Lostwithiel pumping station. Storm overflow event duration monitoring (EDM) was installed at seven intermittent discharges in Fowey by December 2011, and at Caffa Mill CSO by April 2016.
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The urban area of Fowey immediately behind the beach is served by a combined (surface and sewer) system.
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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 20% of visits, with 75% 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. In 2011 a number of misconnections were identified by Environment Agency contractors and subsequently fixed by South West Water. We are working with Cornwall County Council and South West Water to identify and rectify any problems when they arise. 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 assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable for 2% of visits, with 3% 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, tide, 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 5 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 Readymoney Cove
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2024-09-30
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2024-05-01
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SWW are continuing work to reduce the amount of saltwater entering the sewerage network within the Fowey catchment area. Sources of infiltration will be located and followed up with sewer rehabilitation and any improvements to reduce overflow discharges by 2025. Reducing the volume of water in the network helps reduce the need for storm overflows to operate. SWW are exploring opportunities to make further improvements to the existing sewerage system and will plan to complete these by 2025. In 2024 we will add additional freshwater monitoring to the 2024 bathing season.
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Streams and rivers are typically affected by human sewage, animal slurry and runoff from roads. Readymoney Cove is next to the River Fowey Estuary where water quality is temporarily worse during and after heavy rainfall, particularly at low tide. The Readymoney Stream flows onto this beach, and can also affect water quality after heavy rainfall.
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The outfall from Fowey STW discharges one and a half kilometres northeast of the bathing water. This discharge is disinfected and 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 Readymoney Cove for the four year (2020-2023) 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 47% of visits. Tarry residue was not noted at this site.
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There are more than 50 farms in the catchment, most of which are used for livestock. During and after periods of heavy rainfall, runoff to the River Fowey from agricultural land is greatly increased, and the quality of the bathing water can be reduced. In recent years Environment Agency officers have been working with farmers in the catchment to reduce this impact.
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There is a private discharge located near the bathing water. The Environment Agency do not believe this is a source of pollution to the bathing water. If any concerns arise, the Environment Agency will investigate and request immediate remedial action from those responsible.
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The catchment surrounding Readymoney Cove is approximately 27,600 hectares. The River Fowey catchment includes the Colliford and Siblyback Reservoirs, which supply water to a large part of Cornwall. The River Fowey rises on Bodmin Moor and flows south for 35 kilometres (km) before reaching the tidal limit at Lostwithiel. The estuary continues for a further nine kilometres before reaching the coast at Fowey. There are several tributaries that enter the Fowey Estuary, the largest of which is the River Lerryn. The area is rural, ranging from open moorland to rolling hills intersected by steep-sided river valleys. In the past there was extensive mining activity, especially in the north of the catchment, which has left a legacy of abandoned mines and workings. Land use is mostly agricultural, with more than 50 farms. In the northern moorland part of the catchment it is mostly acid and improved grassland with pockets of arable land further south. Urban areas include Fowey, Lostwithiel, Lerryn and a number of moorland villages. There are a number of Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) and Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI's) within the catchment mostly on Bodmin Moor and along the coast. The catchment is partly within the Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
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Readymoney Cove
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Readymoney Cove
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Sampling point at Readymoney Cove
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211830
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50.32951544639139
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-4.645214976125489
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51080
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Sampling point at Readymoney 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 27100:1
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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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