2024 Bathing Water Profile for Ilfracombe Hele
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Ilfracombe Hele Beach is a small cove at the resort of Ilfracombe on the north coast of Devon. It is a sheltered sand and shingle beach, approximately 125 metres wide.
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North Devon
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Devon
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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 research identified both human and animal pollution in the stream. The Environment Agency have prevented cattle from accessing the stream to help reduce pollution from cattle, and are continuing the Environment Agency investigations. The Environment Agency are working with South West Water to carry out a review of sewerage performance within the Ilfracombe area and will make recommendations for improvements to protect and improve the bathing water quality. Investigations between 2021-2023 undertook dye tracing to locate misconnections and found industrial waste discharging into the stream which coordinated with elevated bacterial samples. Bacterial spikes were also found in a 100m stretch in the road culvert but after extensive examination of ecological parameters, no root cause was found. A water quality monitor was installed at Hele mill recording ammonia & turbidity levels, to establish a connection between time of day and reaction after rainfall. This will conclude in 2024.
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There is an emergency/storm overflow from the Hele Beach pumping station that discharges to the sea 280m from the bathing water. The operation of the overflow can lead to a temporary drop in bathing water quality.
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In the past this bathing water was affected by a continuous discharge of untreated sewage at the beach and discharges at Cheyne beach, one kilometre to the west of Hele Bay. The South West Water sewage treatment scheme for Ilfracombe was partially completed in 1996. The scheme included a sewage treatment works (STW) at Ilfracombe which provides secondary treatment and ultraviolet (UV) disinfection. The continuous discharge at Hele Bay was then removed. The STW outfall was extended in 1997, and the shorter outfall retained as a combined sewer overflow (CSO)/ emergency overflow for the Cheyne pumping station. The scheme also included some resewerage and improvements to CSOs, and in 2000 the Cheyne storm tank was connected to alleviate flooding of properties. In 2002, two screens were installed at the Ilfracombe STW inlet works. The original outfall at Hele was retained as a CSO, which was rebuilt during 2003. Storm overflow event duration monitoring was installed at Hele Beach pumping station by April 2011. SWW completed an investigation into saline intrusion into the sewer system, followed by remediation works in 2016 and 2017. In 2023, SWW carried out several separate investigations of the network and assets in the Ilfracombe Hele area; including dye tracing, culvert maintenance & CCTV surveys. SWW’s misconnection team are working proactively in the catchment to find any leaks in the foul sewer lines at the property level.
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The urban area of Ilfracombe immediately behind the beach is served by a combined (surface and sewer) system. In partnership with the Environment Agency, Surfer's Against Sewage have launched their Cleaner Coastal Catchments initiative in this catchment. The initiative focuses on community engagement and encouraging the public to pledge to take a number of actions that will contribute to improving water quality at Ilfracombe Hele. Further information can be found at http://www.cleanercoastalcatchments.org.uk/ .
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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 15% of visits, with 83% 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 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 3% 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, tide 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 16 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 Ilfracombe Hele
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2024-09-30
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2024-05-01
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In the Hag brook, there is some suggestion that cattle are crossing upstream, the sampling point is showing varied results, so this will be investigated further in 2024. The EA will be reviewing the annual returns from the pumping station to understand its impact on the bathing water and SWW’s misconnection team will continue to work proactively in the catchment to find any leaks in the foul sewer lines at the property level. As part of their own environment programme SWW is planning on further work in the area. Hele Bay PS is being upgraded, including the installation of larger pumps. By 2025 SWW are looking to reduce surface water entering the sewerage network from a range of potential sources. These could include highway or land drainage, groundwater infiltration, and in some cases streams. SWW are currently doing work to better understand what those sources are and the route through which they are entering the network. This will then allow SWW to explore possible solutions. Where there is surface or groundwater entering the sewer, SWW will work closely with local authorities to determine alternative drainage pathways for this water. Reducing non-sewage related wastewater from the network helps reduce the need for overflows to operate. The EA will review the data collected by the water quality monitorat Hele mill.
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The Hele Stream flows across the beach at Hele Bay to the west of the Environment Agency monitoring point. The Environment Agency have monitored the stream since 1987, and found that it can be affected by sewage and runoff from farms further up the catchment. Water quality in the Hele Stream is temporarily worse after heavy rainfall.
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The outfall from Ilfracombe STW discharges to the sea one and a half kilometres northwest of 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 Ilfracombe Hele 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 31% of visits. Tarry residue was not noted at this site.
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There are fifteen farms in the catchment, most of which are beef and sheep. During and after periods of heavy rainfall, runoff from agricultural land is greatly increased, and the quality of the bathing water can be reduced. All farms were visited in 2012 as part of the Cleaner seas for Ilfracombe initiative and fencing to keep livestock out of the stream was provided where applicable.
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The Environment Agency have worked with businesses on the small industrial estate at Hele Business Park to ensure there is no affect on the bathing water quality from this site.
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The Environment Agency regularly makes checks on private sewage treatment systems in this catchment.
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The catchment surrounding Hele Bay is approximately 570 hectares. The Hele Stream is approximately three and a half kilometres (km) long and flows from the outskirts of Ilfracombe through a wooded valley on the east side of town. It enters an underground channel 500m before flowing into an open channel on the western side of the beach. The steep catchment means rain runs off rapidly into the Hele Stream. Land use is mostly agricultural, with around 20 farms.
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Ilfracombe Hele
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Ilfracombe Hele
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Sampling point at Ilfracombe Hele
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253602
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51.2108577557785
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-4.097302527866871
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147830
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Sampling point at Ilfracombe Hele
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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 34600:1
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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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