2024 Bathing Water Profile for Babbacombe
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Babbacombe is on the south coast of Devon. It is a sand and pebble beach, approximately 500 metres wide, backed by cliffs.
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Torbay
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Devon
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There is an emergency/storm overflow from the Beach Road pumping station, that discharges to the sea 200m to the west of the beach at Withy 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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In the past the bathing water was affected by the continuous untreated outfall at Withy Point on the eastern edge of the beach, and the untreated outfall at Hopes Nose. Both of these continuous discharges were removed as part of South West Water's sewage treatment scheme for Torbay which was commissioned in May 2002. The scheme consisted of extensive resewerage and improvements to unsatisfactory combined sewer overflows (CSO) and pumping stations. Babbacombe is served by combined sewers, which drain by gravity to Ilsham Valley pumping station from where flows are pumped to Torbay for treatment. A sewage works was built at Brokenbury Quarry in 2002 where effluent receives secondary treatment and ultraviolet (UV) disinfection before discharge through an extended outfall at Sharkham Point. Flows from the untreated outfall at Hopes Nose were transferred to Brokenbury by June 2003, and this outfall was retained as a CSO. Storm overflow event duration monitoring (EDM) was installed at the Beach Road pumping station by April 2011.
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The urban area of Babbacombe immediately behind the beach is served by a combined (surface and sewer) system. There are no outfalls from the system onto the beach. There is an outfall beside the pier which can contain surface water from the surrounding area.
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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 11% 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).
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For the four year (2020-2023) 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 3% 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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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 Babbacombe
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2024-09-30
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2024-05-01
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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 Babbacombe for the four year (2020-2023) assessment period where data is available, sewage debris was not noted at this site. Litter was assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable for 3% of visits, with 62% of visits noting the presence of litter. Tarry residue was not noted at this site.
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The catchment surrounding Babbacombe is approximately 15 hectares. There are no streams within the beach area. The small urban area of Babbacombe is set back behind the steep wooded cliffs that surround the beach.
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Babbacombe
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Babbacombe
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Sampling point at Babbacombe
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293000
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50.4790555378573
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-3.509412650912728
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65450
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Sampling point at Babbacombe
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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 23400:1
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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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