2024 Bathing Water Profile for Hope Cove
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Hope Cove is on the South coast of Devon. It is a remote sand and rock beach, approximately 370 metres wide, surrounded by cliffs.
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South Hams
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Devon
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In 2015 Environment Agency investigations found a broken sewer pipe discharging into a culvert just 50 metres from the monitored bathing point. This was resolved and improvements in water quality were seen. In 2019, we also carried out a survey of the sewer network using CCTV equipment to look for potential misconnections.
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There is an emergency/storm overflow from the Outer Hope pumping station that discharges to the sea 310m from the Environment Agency monitoring point. There is an emergency/storm overflow from the Inner Hope pumping station that discharges to the sea 130m from the Environment Agency monitoring point. The operation of the overflows can lead to a temporary drop in bathing water quality.
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The South West Water scheme for Galmpton sewage treatment works, which provides secondary treatment and ultraviolet (UV) disinfection, was completed in early 2002. The storm discharges from Galmpton STW and Galmpton combined sewer overflow (CSO) were also improved in December 2002. The emergency overflows at Inner and Outer Hope pumping stations were improved by April 2003. Storm overflow event duration monitoring (EDM) was installed at Galmpton STW, and Inner and Outer Hope pumping stations by April 2012, and further improvements were completed in 2015. Further improvements to the emergency/storm discharges from Galmpton STW and Inner and Outer Hope pumping station are due by March 2022.
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The urban area of Galmpton immediately behind the beach is served by a combined (surface and sewer) system. There are no outfalls from the system onto the beach. Working with local volunteers, the Environment Agency carried out a Yellow Fish campaign in 2018 to raise awareness of sources of water pollution. The campaign highlighted the damage caused by pouring oils, paints, solvents, chemicals or dirty water down highway gullies or surface drains.
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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 23% of visits, with 68% of visits noting the presence of seaweed (macroalgae). The bathing water can become covered with large amounts of seaweed, depending on tides and the weather. This bathing water has a history of large amounts of seaweed. Groynes and rocks, platforms or other fixed objects may also develop a covering of seaweed which can be slippery. Seaweed is frequently trapped within the breakwater where it decomposes and can produce objectionable smells.
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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. South West Water are working in the Inner and Outer Hope area to identify, and assist with, remediation of misconnections and infiltration to the surface water sewer network. This work is scheduled to be completed by March 2022.
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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.
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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 cause a temporary reduction in water quality, we will issue a pollution risk warning on this website. Water quality will 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 3 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 Hope Cove
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2024-09-30
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2024-05-01
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The Bolberry Stream flows across the beach to the south of the Environment Agency monitoring point. The Environment Agency have monitored the stream between 1990 and 2010.
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The Galmpton (Hope Cove) STW outfall discharges to the sea 310m from the Environment Agency monitoring point . 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 Hope Cove 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 35% of visits. Tarry residue was not noted at this site.
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In 2015 the Environment Agency carried out an investigation using CCTV to survey a culverted stream. This found a broken private sewer pipe close to the beach. With the help of South West Water and the co-operation of the private owner this problem was quickly rectified.
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The catchment surrounding Hope Cove is approximately 480 hectares. The Bolberry Stream is approximately two and a half kilometres (km) long and enters the sea at the southern end of the beach at Inner Hope. The Galmpton Stream is approximately 1.8km long and flows across fields to an upwelling on the beach at Outer Hope to the north of the bathing water. The catchment is mostly agricultural with just one or two farms.
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Hope Cove
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Hope Cove
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Sampling point at Hope Cove
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267532
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50.24262410687842
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-3.859125090603487
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39726
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Sampling point at Hope 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 25400:1
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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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