2014 Bathing Water Profile for Porth Dafarch
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Located on the west coast of Anglesey, between Trearddur Bay and South Stack on Holy Island, the beach is a small sandy, sheltered cove. Porth Dafarch is located within the Anglesey Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the Holy Island Coast Special Area of Conservation / Special Protection Area and Site of Special Scientific Interest. The water quality sample point is located at the centre of the bay.
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Isle of Anglesey
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Natural Resources Wales works to establish sources of pollution around Porth Dafarch. 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). A toilet block at the beach's car park has been assessed by Natural Resources Wales, in partnership with Anglesey Council. The toilet block drains to a cesspool. This is regularly maintained and has been eliminated as a possible source of pollution that could affect bathing water quality.
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Natural Resources Wales continues to work with Anglesey Council to maintain the high standard of water quality at Porth Dafarch.
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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 Porth Dafarch
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Streams are typically affected by sewage or industrial run off from further up the catchment. A small stream drains onto the beach under the main road. This drains from the main catchment. The stream was last studied in 1998. High levels of bacteria were discovered. These were attributed to the caravan site mentioned previously. This has subsequently improved its private sewage disposal system.
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There are a number of caravan parks in the catchment, which have private sewage treatment systems. There is a caravan site immediately above the beach, to the north west. This has been investigated and some problems identified with the septic tank. This was repaired in 1999. Both sites near to the beach discharge treated sewage to ground and consequently do not present a risk to surface water and 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. There are no private or domestic owners in the area that have a significant impact on the bathing water quality at Porth Dafarch.
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The natural drainage (hydrological) catchment surrounding the bathing water is primarily rural. Agricultural land use, mainly pasture and rough grazing predominates. The land behind the beach is relatively flat, with isolated dwellings scattered throughout the catchment, in addition to several caravan sites located north of the beach. A small stream drains onto the beach, from under the main road.
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2014 40010:1
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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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