2014 Bathing Water Profile for Borth Wen
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Located on the west coast of Anglesey, the south facing beach is a sandy cove, measuring 250 metres on a low tide. On a high tide the beach is mainly shingle. The bay is located within the Anglesey Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, in addition to the Holy Island Coast Special Projection Area and the Glannau Rhoscolyn Site of Special Scientific Interest, confirming the high conservation status of the area. The water quality sample point is located opposite the public footpath leading from the left hand corner of the car park.
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Isle of Anglesey
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Natural Resources Wales works to establish sources of pollution around Borth Wen. Some of this work is carried out in partnership with Anglesey County Council. Inspections are carried out by Natural Resources Wales in partnership with the local authority and the water company. These are carried out pre-season (before the 1st of May) and mid season if required (during the bathing water season).
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Natural Resources Wales continues to work together with Anglesey Council to maintain the high standard of water quality at Borth Wen.
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This bathing water does not have a history of large amounts of seaweed (macroalgae).
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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.
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Phytoplankton (microscopic algae) naturally increase in number at certain times of the year. This process is known as a phytoplankton bloom. Algal Blooms can occur at any beach during the bathing season and are usually noticeable by a surface scum. This beach has no history of such blooms.
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2014 Bathing Water Profile for Borth Wen
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Streams are typically affected by sewage or industrial run off from further up the catchment. Borth Wen bathing water is not influenced by the presence of any significant streams or watercourses draining onto the beach.
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There are a number of farms in the bathing water catchment. There are currently no known issues relating to agriculture in this catchment that could adversely affect current bathing water quality.
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There are several caravan parks in the catchment, however none of these drain directly to Borth Wen beach and consequently do not present a risk to bathing water quality. The EA has been seeking to find a long term solution for one business in the vicinity and its sewage discharge. Poorly maintained private sewage treatment facilities could be a source of pollution, therefore the registration of all private sewage systems in Wales is required by 30 June 2012. The primary aim of this exercise is to provide increased protection for the environment and sensitive features such as bathing water beaches. Where properties are identified in the catchment that are not on mains sewerage, Natural Resources Wales will endeavour to ensure registration has been made.
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The natural drainage (hydrological) catchment surrounding the bathing water is primarily agricultural. The town of Holyhead is located approximately 3 kilometres to the north east of the bay. Isolated dwellings and camp sites are scattered throughout the catchment. The coastline immediately surrounding this bathing water comprises of steep cliffs.
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2014 39995:1
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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 and Wales 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 and Natural Resources Wales role to drive improvement of water quality at bathing waters that are at risk of failing European 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 and Wales since the 1980s.
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