2024 Bathing Water Profile for Paignton Preston Sands
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Paignton Preston Sands is on the south coast of Devon. It is a sandy beach, approximately 800 metres wide, backed by a large town green.
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Torbay
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Devon
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The Environment Agency have historically carried out surveys to identify possible sources of contamination to the Kirkham Stream. A project during 2009 highlighted properties 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. As part of our investigations a DNA tracing technique was used to help us identify whether sources of faecal pollution were human or animal. This detected bird and dog faeces, but their presence is not thought to be significant. The Environment Agency continue to review sewerage performance within the Torbay area and will make recommendations for improvements to protect and improve the bathing water quality as appropriate.
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There is an emergency/storm overflow from the Preston Green Attenuation Tank at SX89876185 that discharges at the beach 280m from the Environment Agency bathing water monitoring point. The operation of the overflow can lead to a temporary drop in 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/
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In the past the main water company effects on this bathing water were from intermittent discharges entering Torbay via the Preston and Kirkham streams, and the untreated outfall at Hopes Nose. Storm sewage attenuation 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 Roundham Road CSO. 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 Preston Green Tank and Marldon pumping station by April 2011, and work to reduce the frequency of discharges from Churscombe Cross pumping station CSO was completed by April 2015.
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The urban area of Paignton 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 6% of visits, with 73% 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 continue to work 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 has some 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 procedures. The Environment Agency makes a daily pollution risk forecast at this site based on the effects of rain, wind and seasonality on bathing water quality. These factors affect the levels of bacteria that get washed into the sea from livestock, sewage and urban drainage via rivers and streams and how they disperse. When these factors combine to make short term pollution likely we issue a pollution risk warning on this website and the beach manager will display a sign advising against bathing at the bathing water. After a short term pollution event, levels of bacteria typically return to normal after a day or so but it’s possible to have several warning days in a row. Details of the work to reduce the sources of bacteria at this bathing water are detailed in this profile. In 2023 11 pollution risk warnings were issued for this bathing water. All bathing waters have the potential to be affected by a pollution incident and if this occurs a pollution risk warning will be issued with associated advice against bathing on this website.
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2024 Bathing Water Profile for Paignton Preston Sands
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2024-09-30
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2024-05-01
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The Kirkham Stream flows through a pipe at the beach to the south of the Environment Agency monitoring point. The Environment Agency have monitored the stream between 1990 and 2013, and found that it is affected by runoff from urban areas and highway drains.
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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 Paignton Preston Sands 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 24% of visits. Tarry residue was not noted at this site.
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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 Paignton Preston Sands is approximately 315 hectares. The Kirkham Stream starts near the Torbay Ring Road and flows east then southeast before discharging to the sea at Preston Sands. The stream is 4.8 kilometres long including tributaries. The majority of the stream is channelled underground apart from the initial two kilometres where it flows through farm fields. It is fed by surface water sewers, highway drains, and land drainage before it discharges through an outfall at the beach. Land use is mostly urban. The steep catchment means rain runs off rapidly into the stream.
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Paignton Preston Sands
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Paignton Preston Sands
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Sampling point at Paignton Preston Sands
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289600
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50.44444250761605
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-3.55619878157936
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61670
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Sampling point at Paignton Preston Sands
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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 24000:1
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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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