2024 Bathing Water Profile for Thurlestone South
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Thurlestone South is on the south coast of Devon. It is a remote sandy beach, approximately 250 metres wide, backed by sand dunes. Rock pools are exposed at low tide. There is a stream flowing across the beach to the sea.
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South Hams
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Devon
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The South West Water sewage treatment scheme for South Milton, which provides secondary treatment, with tertiary treatment using a reed bed, was completed in 1992. Storm overflow event duration monitoring (EDM) was installed at South Milton CSO and pumping station by December 2011.
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The urban area of South Milton immediately behind the beach is served by a combined (surface and sewer) system. There are no outfalls from the system onto the beach.
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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 12% of visits, with 80% of visits noting the presence of seaweed (macroalgae). The bathing water 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 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 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 Thurlestone South
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2024-09-30
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2024-05-01
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The South Milton Stream flows across the beach. The Environment Agency have monitored the stream between 1991 and 2008, and found that it does not affect the bathing water.
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The outfall from the South Milton sewage treatment works discharges to the South Milton Stream 1.3km upstream. This discharge is 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 Thurlestone South 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 51% of visits. Tarry residue was not noted at this site.
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The Environment Agency works closely with local farms to improve farming practices.
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The catchment surrounding Thurlestone South is approximately 925 hectares. The beaches of Thurlestone North and South are separated by a small rocky outcrop. The South Milton Stream is approximately five kilometres (km) long and flows through the village of South Milton across fields to the beach at Thurlestone South. The Thurlestone (Leas foot) Stream is approximately 3.3km long and enters an underground channel to the beach at Thurlestone North. The processes controlling sand accumulation and loss at the Thurlestone South result in the South Milton Stream having intermittent flows to the bathing water.
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Thurlestone South
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Thurlestone South
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Sampling point at Thurlestone South
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267650
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50.260394427262284
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-3.858161252047522
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41700
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Sampling point at Thurlestone South
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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 25500:1
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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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