2024 Bathing Water Profile for Dawlish Coryton Cove

  • Dawlish Coryton Cove is on the south coast of Devon. It is a remote sandy cove, approximately 200 metres wide, backed by cliffs.
  • Teignbridge District
  • Devon
  • The Environment Agency have carried out tracer studies and found that Dawlish Water does not affect the water quality at Coryton Cove.
  • There is an emergency overflow from the Oaklands (Holcombe) pumping station that discharges to the sea 200m south of the beach. The operation of the overflow can lead to a temporary drop in bathing water quality. 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/
  • Improvements to the storm overflows discharging to Dawlish Water were completed by South West Water in March 2000. The sewage treatment scheme for Dawlish was completed in 2000. The scheme included a sewage treatment works at Timaru Gardens which provides secondary treatment and ultraviolet (UV) disinfection. Storm overflow event duration monitoring (EDM) was installed at the Holcombe pumping stations by April 2011.
  • For the four year (2020-2023) assessment period where data is available, seaweed (macroalgae) was assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable for 11% of visits, with 82% of visits noting the presence of seaweed (macroalgae). This bathing water beach often has patches of seaweed (macroalgae).
  • 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. 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 Dawlish Coryton Cove
  • 2024-09-30
  • 2024-05-01
  • The Dawlish STW outfall discharges to the sea 1.4 kilometres northeast of Coryton Cove bathing water.
  • Environment Agency samplers make observations of litter present on the beach at every visit, this includes assessments of sewage debris, litter and tar. At Dawlish Coryton 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 72% of visits. Tarry residue was not assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable, but was observed as being present on 3% of visits.
  • The catchment surrounding Dawlish Coryton Cove is approximately 2300 hectares. Land in the catchment is mainly used for agriculture, with more than 20 farms.
  • Dawlish Coryton Cove

  • 2024 22600:1

    • 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.

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