2024 Bathing Water Profile for Paignton Paignton Sands
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Paignton Sands is on the south coast of Devon. It is a sandy beach resort, 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 carried out surveys to identify possible sources of contamination to the Victoria Stream in 2007 and 2008. A number of sources were found and these problems have been resolved. 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. The Environment Agency are using 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 sewerage performance within the Torbay area and will make recommendations for improvements to protect and improve the bathing water quality. Investigations have shown that a large source of pollution at present is the high number of seabirds in the vicinity of the bathing water, which are attracted by the freshwater input of the Victoria Stream. The Environment Agency are planning to conduct a dye tracing study in 2017 to increase understanding of the impact of the Victoira Stream on the bathing water.
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There is an emergency/storm overflow, that serves the storage tank at Paignton Green, the pumping station at Clennon Valley, and Roundham Round No 1. This overflow discharges to the sea 520m southeast of the Environment Agency monitoring point. There is an emergency/storm overflow, that serves the pumping station at Clennon Valley, and Roundham Round No 2. This overflow discharges to the sea 230m south of the Environment Agency monitoring point. The operation of the overflows 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 main water company affects on Paignton Sands bathing water were from intermittent discharges entering Tor Bay and the untreated outfall at Hopes Nose. In April 1997, improvements to the storm water storage tanks for Paignton and Preston Green combined sewer overflows (CSO) were completed. 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 Littlegate Road CSO, that discharges to the Victoria Stream at the bathing water, the Roundham Road CSO, that discharges at Paignton Sands and the Clennon Valley CSO, that discharges at Goodrington 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. Storm overflow event duration monitoring (EDM) was installed at Littlegate Road, Paignton Green Tank, and Roundham Road by May 2011, and work to reduce the frequency of discharges from Littlegate Road 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. The Environment Agency has provided the Local Authority with additional bird scarers to help discourage seabirds from the bathing water during the bathing season.
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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 10% of visits, with 68% 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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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 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 procedures. The Environment Agency makes a daily pollution risk forecast at this site based on the effects of rain, wind, sunlight 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 7 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 Paignton Sands
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2024-09-30
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2024-05-01
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The Victoria Stream flows onto the beach to the north of the Environment Agency monitoring point. The Environment Agency have monitored the stream between 2004 and 2014, 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 Paignton 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 43% 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 urban catchment surrounding Paignton Sands is approximately 225 hectares, and includes the 1.8 kilometre long Victoria Stream in the low-lying area of Paignton town centre. The majority of the stream is channelled underground. It is fed by surface water sewers, highway drains, and land drainage before it discharges to coastal waters near Paignton Pier. The steep catchment means rain runs off rapidly into the stream.
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Paignton Paignton Sands
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Paignton Paignton Sands
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Sampling point at Paignton Paignton Sands
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289390
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50.43505334594111
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-3.558848075399885
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60630
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Sampling point at Paignton Paignton 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 24100:1
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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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