2019 Bathing Water Profile for Lusty Glaze
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Lusty Glaze is a privately owned beached in Newquay Bay on the north coast of Cornwall. It is a sandy beach resort approximately 220 metres wide backed by cliffs and the town of Newquay.
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Cornwall
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Cornwall
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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 sewage treatment scheme for Newquay, which provides secondary treatment and ultraviolet disinfection, was completed by South West Water in April 2000. Extensive sewerage work to combined sewer overflows in the Newquay area was also carried out at that time.
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The urban area of Newquay 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 (2015-2018) assessment period where data is available, seaweed (macroalgae) was assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable for 4% of visits, with 72% 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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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 2% 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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2019 Bathing Water Profile for Lusty Glaze
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2019-09-30
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2019-05-01
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Streams and rivers are typically affected by human sewage, animal slurry and runoff from roads. The Porth Stream flows the sea 350m northeast of this beach. The Environment Agency have monitored the stream since 1990 and found that it does not affect the bathing water.
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The outfall for the Newquay STW discharges into the sea approximately 2.4km northwest of Lusty Glaze bathing water at Towan Head. 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 Lusty Glaze for the four year (2015-2018) assessment period where data is available, sewage debris was not assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable, but was observed as being present on 2% of visits. Litter was not assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable, but was observed as being present on 56% of visits. Tarry residue was not noted at this site.
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The catchment surrounding Lusty Glaze is approximately 3,680 hectares. There is no stream which enters the sea at this bathing water, however, the mouth of the Porth Stream is 350 metres (m) to the northeast. The Porth (Whipsiderry) Stream is approximately 12 kilometres (km) (18km long including major tributaries) and rises near Ruthvoes at the eastern edge of the catchment close to the A30. The stream feeds the Porth Reservoir eight kilometres inland then flows to the coast at Porth where it enters the sea at the northern end of the beach. The steep catchment means rain runs off rapidly into the stream especially towards the coast. Land use is mostly agricultural, with around 20 farms. The rural areas are a patchwork of improved grassland, arable and mixed woodland. The urban areas include parts of Newquay, St Columb Major and Indian Queens and there are caravan sites within the catchment.
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Lusty Glaze
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Lusty Glaze
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Sampling point at Lusty Glaze
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182380
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50.421753411210396
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-5.065007625612633
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62480
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Sampling point at Lusty Glaze
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p152 dT23 h59 m59 s
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2019 05 01 t00:00:00
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2019-05-01T00:00:00
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2019 09 30 t23:59:59
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2019-09-30T23:59:59
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2019 32330:1
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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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