2019 Bathing Water Profile for Pentewan
-
Pentewan is on the south coast of Cornwall. It is a privately owned sandy beach resort, approximately 1.1 kilometres wide, close to a camp site.
-
Cornwall
-
Cornwall
-
There is an emergency/storm overflow from the Pentewan pumping station, that discharges to the St Austell River 250m from the beach. Within the Pentewan bathing water catchment there are four emergency/storm overflows that discharge into the St Austell River at least one and a half kilometres upstream of the bathing water. The operation of the overflows can lead to a temporary drop in water quality in the St Austell River and Pentewan 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 scheme for Menagwins (St Austell) sewage treatment works (STW), which provides secondary treatment and ultraviolet (UV) disinfection, was completed in 1996, on a trial basis. The continuous untreated discharge at Mevagissey was transferred to Menagwins STW in 1997, and following completion of the trials, the UV system was permanently installed in early 1998. Improvements were made to the sewerage network in Mevagissey in 1999 which have reduced saline infiltration and flooding problems at both Mevagissey and Menagwins. Improvements were made to the storm discharges Menagwins STW in early 2000. Storm overflow event duration monitoring (EDM) was installed at Menagwins STW and Pentewan pumping stations by April 2011.
-
The urban area of St Austell (six kilometres upstream from the bathing water) is served by a combined (surface and sewer) system. There are no outfalls from the system onto the beach.
-
For the four year (2015-2018) assessment period where data is available, seaweed (macroalgae) was assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable for 1% of visits, with 86% of visits noting the presence of seaweed (macroalgae). This bathing water does not have a history of large amounts of seaweed (macro algae).
-
For the four year (2015-2018) 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 1% 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.
-
2019 Bathing Water Profile for Pentewan
-
2019-09-30
-
2019-05-01
-
Streams and rivers are typically affected by human sewage, animal slurry and runoff from roads. The St Austell River flows onto this beach at the north end. The Environment Agency have monitored the river at Pentewan Bridge between 1986 and 2008, and found that water quality is temporarily worse during and after heavy rainfall.
-
The outfall from Menagwins (St Austell) STW discharges to the St Austell River approximately 4.6km upstream of the 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 Pentewan for the four year (2015-2018) 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 57% of visits. Tarry residue was not noted at this site.
-
The catchment surrounding Pentewan is approximately 3,960 hectares and includes the St Austell River which rises near Carthew. The river flows through areas of flood plain for much of its course south of St Austell and enters the sea at Pentewan Beach. In the past the St Austell River has been affected by the China clay industry. The combined effects of clay mining, cross catchment transfers and the porous nature of the catchment, have reduced runoff from the steep gradient of the St Austell River resulting in reduced peak flows to the bathing water. Two much smaller streams also flow across the beach just south of the Environment Agency monitoring point. The catchment is mostly agricultural, with around 20 farms. The rural areas are mostly improved grassland with pockets of arable land and woodland especially in the steeper valleys. The upper third of the catchment is characterised by the china clay mining landscape including the pits and associated spoil heaps. Urban areas include part of St Austell and Pentewan and there are camping and holiday parks close to the coast.
-
Pentewan
-
Pentewan
-
Sampling point at Pentewan
-
201880
-
50.287537976881396
-
-4.782583402457527
-
46770
-
Sampling point at Pentewan
-
-
-
p152 dT23 h59 m59 s
-
2019 05 01 t00:00:00
-
2019-05-01T00:00:00
-
-
2019 09 30 t23:59:59
-
2019-09-30T23:59:59
-
-
-
2019 27900:1
-
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.
-
