2024 Bathing Water Profile for Dartmouth Castle and Sugary Cove
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Dartmouth Castle and Sugary Cove is at the mouth of the River Dart on the south coast of Devon. It is a sand and shingle beach, approximately 60 metres wide, backed by cliffs.
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South Hams
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Devon
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No routine sampling was carried out between 2000 - 2005 and also in 2013 due to unsafe access to the beach. There are currently no investigations planned for this bathing water.
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South West Water provided preliminary treatment (screening) to the majority of the sewage from Dartmouth and Kingswear in 1997. A small untreated discharge at Dartmouth Castle was also replaced by an emergency overflow from a pumping station at that time. The South West Water sewage treatment scheme for Dartmouth and Kingswear, which provides secondary treatment and ultraviolet (UV) disinfection, was completed in 2002. The storm overflow at New Ground Dartmouth (also referred to as Mayors Avenue) was improved in September 2002, and the sewerage infrastructure in the Warfleet/Southtown area was also improved at that time. The sewage treatment works (STW) at Galmpton received secondary treatment and UV disinfection by the end of December 2002, and improvements to the combined sewer overflow at the STW were also completed. Improvements to discharges in the Dart Estuary at Dittisham and Stoke Gabriel were completed by March 2003. Sewage from Galmpton and Stoke Gabriel is pumped to the Brokenbury Quarry STW for treatment and discharges through the outfall at Sharkham Point. Storm overflow event duration monitoring (EDM) was installed at Mayors Avenue by December 2011, and saline balancing was also reinstated at this site in 2015. The following emergency/storm discharges into the Dart have also been improved to protect shellfish waters: Galmpton pumping station, Mill Creek pumping station, Dittisham STW and Ferry Boat Inn pumping station by 2018.
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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 73% of visits. 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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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 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 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 Dartmouth Castle and Sugary Cove
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2024-09-30
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2024-05-01
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This beach is at the mouth of the River Dart which can affect water quality after heavy rainfall.
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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 Dartmouth Castle and Sugary Cove 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 25% of visits. Tarry residue was not noted at this site.
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The catchment surrounding Dartmouth Castle and Sugary Cove is approximately 48,000 hectares. There are no streams entering the sea at Sugary Cove, however, the beach is at the mouth of the Dart Estuary. The River Dart rises on north Dartmoor and is approximately 28 kilometres long. It flows through Dartmeet, Buckfastleigh, Totnes, and Dartmouth and Kingswear at the estuary mouth. The Dart Estuary is tidal to the weir at Totnes, and like most other estuaries of the South West, it was formed by the original deep river valley being flooded by sea level rise. This created the characteristic deep waters and steep sided banks of a ria. The main tributaries which feed the estuary are the rivers Hems and Harbourne. The catchment is mostly for agriculture and tourism.
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Dartmouth Castle and Sugary Cove
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Dartmouth Castle and Sugary Cove
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Sampling point at Dartmouth Castle and Sugary Cove
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288700
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50.342055424936
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-3.565498917213719
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50300
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Sampling point at Dartmouth Castle and Sugary Cove
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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 24700:1
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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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