2024 Bathing Water Profile for St Mary's Bay (Devon)
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St Mary's Bay is on the south coast of Devon. It is a sandy beach resort, approximately 450 metres wide, backed by cliffs.
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Torbay
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Devon
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There is a storm overflow from Bolton Street that discharges to the sea 900m southeast of the beach at Sharkham Point. There is a high level storm overflow that discharges 750m from St Marys Bay at Sharkham Point. The operation of the overflows can lead to a temporary drop in bathing water quality.
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In the past the main water company affects on this bathing water were from intermittent discharges entering Torbay and the untreated outfall at Hopes Nose, which was removed as part of South West Water's sewage treatment scheme for Torbay commissioned in May 2002. The scheme consisted of extensive resewerage and improvements to unsatisfactory combined sewer overflows (CSO) and pumping stations. 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 Bolton Street by April 2011.
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For the three year (2021-2023) assessment period where data is available, seaweed (macroalgae) was not assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable, but was observed as being present on 71% of visits. This bathing water does not have a history of large amounts of seaweed (macro algae).
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For the three year (2021-2023) 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 6% 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 St Mary's Bay (Devon)
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2024-09-30
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2024-05-01
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The Mussel Rock Stream flows across the beach to the south of the Environment Agency monitoring point. The Environment Agency have monitored the stream between 1989 and 2008, and found that it does not affect the bathing water.
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The Torbay STW outfall discharges to the sea off Sharkham Point approximately 900m from the 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 St Mary's Bay (Devon) for the three year (2021-2023) 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 48% of visits. Tarry residue was not noted at this site.
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The catchment surrounding St Mary's Bay (Devon) is approximately 85 hectares. A tiny water course known as the Mussel Rock Stream discharges at the beach. Land use is mainly urban.
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St Mary's Bay (Devon)
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St Mary's Bay (Devon)
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Sampling point at St Mary's Bay (Devon)
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293200
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50.385234188764414
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-3.503618601249454
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55010
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Sampling point at St Mary's Bay (Devon)
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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 24600:1
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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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