2024 Bathing Water Profile for Ness Cove
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Ness Cove is on the south coast of Devon, just south of the mouth of the Teign Estuary. It is a remote, secluded sandy beach approximately 950 metres wide, backed by cliffs.
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Teignbridge
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Devon
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The South West Water sewage treatment scheme for Teignmouth was identified for the protection of Teignmouth and Shaldon bathing waters. The scheme was completed at the end of 2000 and collects sewage from Newton Abbot, the Aller Valley, Milber, Combeinteignhead, Shaldon, Teignmouth, Bishopsteignton and Kingsteignton. Sewage receives secondary treatment and is discharged through a two kilometre long sea outfall. Stokeinteignhead was connected to the Teignmouth sewerage system in 2003. Improvements to 24 combined sewer overflows (CSO) in the Teign Estuary including 14 in Newton Abbot and 10 in Teignmouth were completed by the end of March 2004. A further 18 CSOs including 12 in Newton Abbot and six in Teignmouth were improved by the end of March 2005. Storm overflow event duration monitoring (EDM) was installed at Gales Hill, King George Field, and Milford Park pumping stations by April 2011. The following discharges into the Teign Estuary have also been improved to protect shellfish waters: East Ogwell STW (March 2018), Chudleigh Knighton STW (March 2018), Summerhill pumping station overflow (December 2017) and Chudleigh STW storm overflows (December 2017).
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For the three year (2021-2023) assessment period where data is available, seaweed (macroalgae) was assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable for 2% of visits, with 90% of visits noting the presence of seaweed (macroalgae). This bathing water does not have a history of large amounts of seaweed (macro algae).
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For the three year (2021-2023) assessment period where data is available, phytoplankton (microscopic algae) was assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable for 2% of visits, with 3% of visits noting the presence of phytoplankton (microscopic algae). 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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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 Ness Cove
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2024-09-30
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2024-05-01
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This bathing water is close to the estuary of the River Teign, however the Environment Agency do not believe there is any affect.
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The outfall from Teignmouth STW at Buckland is 2.2km offshore of the bathing water. 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 Ness Cove for the three year (2021-2023) 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 79% of visits. Tarry residue was not noted at this site.
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The catchment surrounding Ness Cove is approximately 52,500 hectares. There are no streams within the beach area, but the Teign Estuary discharges 400m north of the beach. The 42 kilometre (km) long River Teign rises on North Dartmoor and its main tributaries are the Aller Brook and rivers Lemon and Bovey. The Aller Brook sub catchment is the most populated. In the lower reaches of the Teign the floodplain is wide and gently sloping. At Newton Abbot the Teign enters a long narrow estuary which is the most easterly of Devon's drowned river valleys (rias). The coastal landscape at Teignmouth and Shaldon is characterised by red sandstone cliffs. The catchment is mostly agricultural, with more than 20 farms.
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Ness Cove
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Ness Cove
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Sampling point at Ness Cove
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293925
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50.53609536432295
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-3.498179275537058
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71776
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Sampling point at Ness 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 23000:1
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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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