2014 Bathing Water Profile for Trearddur Bay
-
The beach is a small sandy cove, facing west / southwest, sheltered by rocks on either side, and backed by a concrete promenade. The Anglesey Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty designation extends over the northwest headland of the bathing beach. The water quality sample point is located at the centre of the beach.
-
Isle of Anglesey
-
Natural Resources Wales works to establish sources of pollution around Trearddur Bay. Some of this work is carried out in partnership with Anglesey County Council and Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water. 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).
-
There are 3 intermittent discharges in this catchment. The main Trearddur Bay pumping stations pump the area’s sewage to Holyhead, with the intermittent discharges spilling into watercourses that drain eastwards and away from the bathing water.
-
Natural Resources Wales has developed a good working relationship with Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water and liaises regularly to identify problems that could affect bathing water quality.
-
Natural Resources Wales and Anglesey County Council have been working together to improve and maintain the bathing water quality at Trearddur Bay for a number of years. Natural Resources Wales continues to work with Anglesey Council to maintain the high standard of water quality at Trearddur Bay.
-
This bathing water does not have a history of large amounts of seaweed (macroalgae).
-
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.
-
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.
-
2014 Bathing Water Profile for Trearddur Bay
-
Streams are typically affected by sewage or industrial runoff from further up the catchment. There are no streams or watercourses that drain directly onto the beach. As mentioned previously, the watercourses inland of the beach all drain eastwards towards Beddmanarch Bay.
-
There are currently no known issues with the farms in this catchment, that could adversely affect the current bathing water quality.
-
Natural Resources Wales continues to work with private owners regarding potential pollution sources to the bathing water. This work involves where necessary, advisory mail drops, dye tracing, misconnection surveys and face to face meetings. There are a number of caravan parks and hotels in the catchment. These are connected to the main sewage system and consequently, do not present a direct risk to bathing water quality. 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.
-
The natural drainage (hydrological) catchment surrounding the bathing water is primarily rural. There are a number of residential properties, hotels, and two golf courses located immediately behind the bay. Watercourses in the vicinity drain eastwards, away from the beach, towards the inland sea area of Beddmanarch Bay.
-
2014 40000:1
-
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 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.
-
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 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.
-
Discharges from sewage treatment works have improved substantially in England and Wales since the 1980s.
-
