2019 Bathing Water Profile for Plymouth Hoe West
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Plymouth Hoe West is near the centre of Plymouth on the south coast of Devon. It is a shingle and rock beach approximately 150 metres wide.
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City of Plymouth
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Devon
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The Environment Agency have carried out extensive additional catchment monitoring in the Plymouth area alongside the Environment Agency routine bathing water monitoring. The Environment Agency also used a DNA tracing technique to help us identify whether sources of faecal pollution are human or animal. The aim was to pinpoint pollution problems in the catchments flowing into Plymouth Sound and the local sewerage infrastructure so that the Environment Agency can improve water quality at the bathing waters. Investigations showed that the urban drainage problems were a source of pollution to the bathing water. As a result, between 2012-2014, the Environment Agency, in partnership with South West Water and Plymouth City Council, investigated the sewerage network in Plymouth to identify and rectify issues. The project focused on misconnections entering stormwater drains and polluting local watercourses. However other issues were identified such as issues with South West Water assets, private treatment plants and blockages due to fats and grease. More than 250 issues were identified and resolved. Further misconnections investigations will be carried out by South West Water.
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There is an emergency/storm overflow from the West Hoe Tanks, that discharges to Plymouth Sound approximately 420m southwest of Plymouth Hoe West bathing water. There are emergency and storm overflows that discharge into Plymouth Sound from neighbouring urban catchments. The operation of the overflows can lead to a temporary drop in water quality in the Plymouth Sound and at Plymouth Hoe West bathing water.
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The sewage treatment scheme for Plymouth was completed by South West Water during the 1998 bathing season. A large number of untreated sewage discharges to Plymouth Sound and the Cattewater were removed and transferred to Plymouth sewage treatment works (STW). Sewage is treated to a secondary standard with ultraviolet (UV) disinfection. Improvements to several untreated discharges into the lower Tamar Estuary (Hamoaze), were also completed at that time. Since completion of this scheme the bathing water quality at Plymouth Hoe West has improved significantly. Wastewater flows to Saltash STW were transferred to Ernesettle STW in 2000 and secondary treatment was completed by April 2001. A total of 12 discharges to the River Tamar were improved by the end of December 2002, and a further 16 discharges by the end of March 2003. Storm overflow event duration monitoring (EDM) was installed at eleven storm discharges to the Plym and Plymouth Sound by April 2012 and a further five in March 2016. Storm overflow event duration monitoring (EDM) was installed at 31 storm discharges to the Plym and Plymouth Sound by March 2018. UV disinfection was installed at Plymouth Central STW overflow by March 2018.
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The urban area of Plymouth immediately behind the beach is served by a combined (surface and sewer) system. The outfall from the Tinside Swimming Pool discharges to Plymouth Sound 220m southeast of the Environment Agency monitoring point.
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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 88% of visits noting the presence of seaweed (macroalgae). The bathing water at Plymouth Hoe West can become covered with large amounts of seaweed, depending on tides and the weather. This bathing water has a history of large amounts of seaweed.
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Wrongly connected domestic waste water pipes can affect the bathing water quality. We have checked the local sewerage system for misconnections. We are working with Plymouth City 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 (2015-2018) 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. Short term pollution is caused when heavy rainfall or high tides wash faecal material into the sea from livestock, sewage and urban drainage via rivers and streams. At this site the risk of encountering reduced water quality increases after rainfall and typically returns to normal after 1-3 days. The Environment Agency makes daily pollution risk forecasts based on rainfall and tidal patterns and will issue a pollution risk warning if high tides or heavy rainfall occurs to enable bathers to avoid periods of increased risk. The Environment Agency works to reduce the sources of this pollution through pollution prevention measures, work with agriculture and water companies. 7 warnings advising against swimming due to an increase risk of short term pollution were issued in 2018 for Plymouth Hoe West bathing water. These warnings were issued because of the effects of heavy rain on the water quality.
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2019 Bathing Water Profile for Plymouth Hoe West
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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 Tamar and Plym rivers can affect bathing water quality at Plymouth Hoe West during and after heavy rainfall.
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The Plymouth STW outfall discharges to Plymouth Sound approximately 420m southwest of Plymouth Hoe West 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 Plymouth Hoe West 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 76% of visits. Tarry residue was not noted at this site.
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Where the Environment Agency have found polluting discharges from private properties close to the bathing water they have been connected to the sewerage system. If any concerns arise, the Environment Agency will investigate and request immediate remedial action from those responsible.
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The catchment surrounding Plymouth Hoe West is approximately 171,000 hectares. It includes the Tamar and the Plym Estuaries which enter the sea in Plymouth Sound. The Tamar system includes the rivers Tamar, Tavy, Tiddy, and Lynher. The River Tamar rises close to Bude on the north coast of Cornwall and flows south for 50 kilometres (km) before becoming tidal approximately 30km inland at Gunnislake Weir. The Lyhner rises on Bodmin Moor and flows for approximately 34km to the estuary at Plymouth. The Tiddy joins the Lyhner in the upper estuary. The River Tavy rises in Dartmoor National Park and falls steeply for 28km to the tidal limit at Lopwell, before joining the Tamar Estuary 10km upstream from Plymouth Sound. The River Plym rises on the open moorland of south Dartmoor and becomes tidal five and a half kilometres before entering the sea at the eastern side of Plymouth Sound. The major maritime and industrial city of Plymouth contrasts strongly with the rural character of the upper catchments, which are populated by specialist dairy, beef and sheep farms and some arable land producing potatoes and maize. Historic mining and industrial activity has significantly affected land and water quality.
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Plymouth Hoe West
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Plymouth Hoe West
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Sampling point at Plymouth Hoe West
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247500
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50.36400976974736
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-4.14553973374772
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53770
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Sampling point at Plymouth Hoe West
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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 26500:1
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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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