2024 Bathing Water Profile for Blackpool Sands
-
Blackpool Sands is on the south coast of Devon. It is a privately owned crescent of coarse golden sand and shingle, approximately 650 metres wide. The beach is set in a sheltered bay amongst evergreens and pines in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). It is surrounded by steeply rising fields and woods, and there is a stream that enters the sea at the southern end of the beach.
-
South Hams
-
Devon
-
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/
-
The discharges at Stoke Fleming North and South, one and a half kilometres to the east of Blackpool Sands, received primary treatment by South West Water in 2005. The Strete outfall 1.3km to the south of the beach was also improved and relocated at that time.
-
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 60% of visits. This bathing water does not have a history of large amounts of seaweed (macro algae).
-
For the four year (2020-2023) assessment period where data is available, phytoplankton (microscopic algae) was not noted at this site. 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.
-
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.
-
2024 Bathing Water Profile for Blackpool Sands
-
2024-09-30
-
2024-05-01
-
The Blackpool Stream flows across the beach to the southwest of the Environment Agency monitoring point. The Environment Agency have monitored the stream between 1992 and 2008.
-
Environment Agency samplers make observations of litter present on the beach at every visit, this includes assessments of sewage debris, litter and tar. At Blackpool Sands 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 43% of visits. Tarry residue was not noted at this site.
-
There are several 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.
-
The catchment surrounding Blackpool Sands is approximately 1,300 hectares. The stream at Blackpool Sands is six kilometres long and branches out into the rural catchment.
-
Blackpool Sands
-
Blackpool Sands
-
Sampling point at Blackpool Sands
-
285500
-
50.3194159836367
-
-3.60970754285821
-
47850
-
Sampling point at Blackpool Sands
-
-
-
p152 dT23 h59 m59 s
-
2024 05 01 t00:00:00
-
2024-05-01T00:00:00
-
-
2024 09 30 t23:59:59
-
2024-09-30T23:59:59
-
-
-
2024 24800:1
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
Discharges from sewage treatment works have improved substantially in England since the 1980s.
-
