2024 Bathing Water Profile for Hollicombe
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Hollicombe is on the south coast of Devon. It is a sandy beach with rock pools, approximately 400 metres wide, backed by cliffs. A stream flows across the beach to the sea.
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Torbay
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Devon
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In 2009 a project highlighted properties that were wrongly connected to the surface water system, and these have been corrected. In 2010 a dedicated Torbay Beach Project Officer investigated further and took samples. The Environment Agency have used a DNA tracing technique to help us identify whether sources of faecal pollution are human or animal. The Environment Agency are working with South West Water to carry out a review of sewer performance within the Torbay area and will make recommendations for improvements to protect and improve the bathing water quality. The Environment Agency has carried out investigations in the Hollicombe Stream to help pinpoint any potential sources of agricultural pollution.
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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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In the past the main water company effects on this bathing water were from intermittent discharges entering Torbay and the untreated outfall at Hopes Nose. Storm sewage attenuation (storage) tanks for Paignton Green and Preston Green combined sewer overflows (CSO) were completed in April 1997. The continuous outfall at Hopes Nose was 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 CSOs and pumping stations including improvements to the Kings Drive Penstock CSO, which discharges to the Torre Abbey Stream and the Littlegate Road CSO, which discharges to the Victoria Park Stream at Paignton Sands. 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.
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The urban area of Torquay 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 (2020-2023) assessment period where data is available, seaweed (macroalgae) was assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable for 2% of visits, with 84% of visits noting the presence of seaweed (macroalgae). This bathing water has some history of large amounts of seaweed (macro algae) and can become covered with large amounts of seaweed at certain times of the year, depending on tides and the weather. Groynes and rocks, platforms or other fixed objects may also develop a covering of seaweed which can be slippery.
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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. We are working with Torbay 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 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. These blooms can discolour the water or form as a foam on the water. 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 Hollicombe
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2024-09-30
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2024-05-01
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The Hollicombe Stream flows across the beach to the north east of the Environment Agency monitoring point. The Environment Agency have monitored the stream since 1987 and found that water quality is temporarily worse after heavy rainfall.
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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 Hollicombe 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 33% of visits. Tarry residue was not noted at this site.
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During and after periods of heavy rainfall, runoff to the Hollicombe stream from agricultural land is greatly increased, and the quality of the bathing water can be reduced. The Environment Agency has carried out investigations in the Hollicombe Stream to locate sources of agricultural pollution and worked with farmers to remediate any issues found.
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There are some private discharges with potential to cause pollution, however at present the Environment Agency do not believe these are 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 Hollicombe is approximately 280 hectares. The Hollicombe Stream is approximately two and a half kilometres long and discharges directly to the bathing water. The catchment is mostly rural in the upper reaches, and urban in the lower reaches.
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Hollicombe
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Hollicombe
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Sampling point at Hollicombe
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289800
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50.44879532733753
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-3.553524388097443
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62150
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Sampling point at Hollicombe
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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 23900:1
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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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