2024 Bathing Water Profile for Teignmouth Holcombe
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Teignmouth Holcombe is on the south coast of Devon. It is a sandy cove, approximately 650 metres wide, backed by cliffs and the railway line.
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Teignbridge District
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Devon
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The Environment Agency carried out extensive investigations and found that the Smugglers Lane combined sewer overflow (CSO), which discharged to the Holcombe Stream, affected bathing water quality. We worked with South West Water to rectify the issues identified with this overflow. We continue to work with South West Water and monitor the bathing water quality at Teignmouth Holcombe.
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There is an emergency/storm overflow from the Smugglers Lane pumping station that discharges to the Holcombe Stream 40m from the Environment Agency monitoring point. The operation of the overflow can lead to a temporary drop in bathing water quality at Holcombe. 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/
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The sewage treatment scheme for Dawlish was completed by South West Water in 2000. The scheme included a sewage treatment works at Timaru Gardens which provides secondary treatment and ultraviolet (UV) disinfection. Wastewater from Holcombe is transferred to Dawlish for treatment, and the discharge at Holcombe has been retained as a combined sewer overflow. Storm overflow event duration monitoring (EDM) was installed at the Holcombe and Smugglers Lane pumping stations by May 2011.
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The Environment Agency have regularly inspected and sampled surface water outfalls in the area.
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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 6% of visits, with 70% 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 5% of visits. 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.
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This bathing water is subject to short term pollution procedures. The Environment Agency makes a daily pollution risk forecast at this site based on the effects of rain and sunlight 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 make short term pollution likely we issue a pollution risk warning on this website and the beach manager will display a sign advising against bathing at the bathing water. After a short term pollution event, levels of bacteria 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. No warnings were issued last season as this site is new to PRF 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 Teignmouth Holcombe
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2024-09-30
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2024-05-01
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Streams and rivers are typically affected by human sewage, animal slurry and runoff from roads. The Holcombe Stream flows across the beach to the east of the Environment Agency monitoring point. The Environment Agency have monitored the Holcombe Stream between 1987 and 2008 and found that the bathing water can be affected by inputs from storm overflows entering the stream further up the catchment.
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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 Teignmouth Holcombe for the four year (2020-2023) assessment period where data is available, sewage debris was not noted at this site. Litter was assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable for 2% of visits, with 43% of visits noting the presence of litter. Tarry residue was not assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable, but was observed as being present on 2% of visits.
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The catchment of the Holcombe bathing water is largely agricultural with significant areas of land used for livestock. During and after periods of heavy rainfall, runoff from agricultural land is greatly increased, and the quality of the bathing water can be reduced. The Environment Agency have worked with Natural England and farmers on Catchment Sensitive Farming programmes to encourage better farming practices and improve water quality in the surrounding areas.
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There are caravan parks and 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. If any concerns arise, the Environment Agency will investigate and request immediate remedial action from those responsible.
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The catchment surrounding Teignmouth Holcombe is approximately 100 hectares. The steep catchment means rain runs off rapidly into the stream. The Holcombe Stream discharges at the beach and is approximately 1.25 kilometres (km) long. The catchment is mostly agricultural with just one or two farms.
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Teignmouth Holcombe
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Teignmouth Holcombe
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Sampling point at Teignmouth Holcombe
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295650
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50.56188347018894
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-3.47464131412136
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74610
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Sampling point at Teignmouth Holcombe
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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 22700:1
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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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