2024 Bathing Water Profile for Lynmouth
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Lynmouth is a small resort bay on the edge of Exmoor National Park on the north coast of Devon. The bay is sheltered by high rugged woodland covered cliffs. The East and West Lyn rivers meet at Lynmouth and flow across the rocky beach. The beach is to the east of the river mouth and is approximately 460 metres wide.
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North Devon
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Devon
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In 2014 the Environment Agency carried out a survey to look at the suitability of the bathing water monitoring point. As a result of this study, the monitoring point was relocated for the 2015 bathing season.
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There are emergency/storm overflows from the Esplanade pumping station and the Rock House pumping station. These overflows discharge into the River Lyn at the beach. The operation of the overflows can lead to a temporary drop in bathing water quality at Lynmouth beach. 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 this bathing water was affected by a continuous discharge of untreated sewage at the beach, and by unsatisfactory combined sewer overflows (CSO) discharging to the River Lyn. The South West Water sewage treatment scheme for Lynton/Lynmouth was partially completed in May 1997. The scheme included a sewage treatment works (STW) providing primary treatment, and an extension to the outfall which was tidally phased to discharge only at certain times of the day. Improvements were also made to the sewerage and the removal/upgrade of CSOs at this time. Lynmouth STW was upgraded to full secondary treatment and disinfection by April 2003. Storm overflow event duration monitoring was installed at five sites in Lynton and Lynmouth by December 2011, and problems with storm overflows in Lynton were identified and fixed in 2015.
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The urban areas of Lynton and Lynmouth immediately behind the beach are served by a combined (surface and sewer) system. The Environment Agency have regularly inspected and sampled surface water outfalls.
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For the four year (2020-2023) assessment period where data is available, seaweed (macroalgae) was not assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable, but was observed as being present on 89% of visits. 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. 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 1 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 Lynmouth
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2024-09-30
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2024-05-01
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The River Lyn flows across the beach to the west of the Environment Agency monitoring point. The Environment Agency have monitored the river between 1986 and 2010, and found that it is affected by runoff from farms further up the catchment during wet weather.
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The outfall from Lynmouth STW discharges 500m offshore 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 Lynmouth 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 46% of visits. Tarry residue was not noted at this site.
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The catchment of the Lynmouth bathing water is largely agricultural with significant areas of land used for livestock, most of which are dairy and beef. During and after periods of heavy rainfall, runoff from agricultural areas to the River Lyn is greatly increased, and the quality of the bathing water may be reduced. The Environment Agency have worked with Natural England and farmers on Catchment Sensitive Farming programmes to encourage better farming practices and improve water quality in the surrounding areas.
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There are caravan parks and hotels that are not on the main sewerage system and have private sewage treatment arrangements. The Environment Agency do not believe these are a source of pollution to the bathing water at present. If any concerns arise, the Environment Agency will investigate and request immediate remedial action from those responsible.
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The catchment surrounding Lynmouth is approximately 10,200 hectares. The East and West Lyn rivers are approximately 16 kilometres (km) and eight kilometres long respectively, and meet in the town of Lynmouth before entering the sea at the bathing water. The rivers rise on Exmoor and drop sharply through steep sided valleys. The steep catchment means rain runs off rapidly into the rivers. The villages in the catchment are isolated in the valleys, linked by narrow, winding roads. Land use is mostly agricultural, with around 20 farms.
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Lynmouth
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Lynmouth
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Sampling point at Lynmouth
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272713
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51.231690161017816
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-3.824498121373426
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149638
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Sampling point at Lynmouth
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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 34800:1
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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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