2024 Bathing Water Profile for Sandy Bay
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Sandy Bay is on the south coast of Devon. It is a sandy beach resort, approximately 400 metres wide, backed by cliffs.
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East Devon
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Devon
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The Environment Agency periodically carries out additional catchment monitoring, and this is used to make recommendations for further improvements to protect and improve bathing water quality. In 2021 the Environment Agency’s investigation into the bathing water deterioration began. In 2022 this developed into a catchment investigation to discover sources of pollution in the catchment. High bacteria results were established in both freshwater streams discharging onto the beach. The EA and SWW worked with private owners to determine any misconnections around the bathing water, one significant misconnection was detected in the freshwater stream and repairs were completed. The investigation found that pollution causes were 50% misconnections & 50% urban run-off. The Environment Agency commissioned additional stream monitoring within 2023 bathing season with Microbial Source Tracking & DNA preparation.
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The storm overflow from the Exmouth STW discharges to the sea approximately 800m from Sandy Bay bathing water. The operation of the overflow can lead to a temporary drop in bathing water quality.
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The South West Water sewage treatment scheme for Sandy Bay was completed in 1997. Sewage from Sandy Bay is pumped to the Exmouth sewage treatment works (STW) for treatment. The outfall from Exmouth STW is off Straight Point and was extended further offshore in 1998. Storm overflow event duration monitoring (EDM) was installed at Exmouth STW by April 2011.
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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 28% of visits, with 61% of visits noting the presence of seaweed (macroalgae). The bathing water 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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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 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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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, tide, 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. No warnings were issued last season as this site is new to PRF 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 Sandy Bay
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2024-09-30
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2024-05-01
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Streams and rivers are typically affected by human sewage, animal slurry and runoff from roads. The Sandy Bay Stream is a small stream that discharges at the eastern side of the bathing water.
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The Exmouth STW outfall discharges 800m from the bathing water. The 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 Sandy Bay 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 2% of visits, with 77% of visits noting the presence of litter. Tarry residue was not noted at this site.
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There is a holiday park above the beach which has a private foul sewage system that is connected to the Exmouth STW. Surface water can flow into the Sandy Bay Stream from the caravan site. This can affect bathing water quality, particularly after periods of rainfall. Wrongly connected trade and domestic waste water pipes can also affect the water quality of rivers and the sea. The Environment Agency investigations into bathing water quality have included checking the local sewerage system for misconnections. The Environment Agency will continue to work with the caravan site owner and South West Water to improve management where appropriate.
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The catchment surrounding Sandy Bay is approximately 45 hectares. There is a large holiday park at the top of the cliffs behind the beach, which encompasses the majority of the catchment. The steep catchment means rain runs off rapidly into the Sandy Bay Stream which flows across the beach.
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Sandy Bay
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Sandy Bay
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Sampling point at Sandy Bay
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303300
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50.60986094240923
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-3.368019840885045
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79800
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Sampling point at Sandy Bay
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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 22200:1
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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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