2014 Bathing Water Profile for Abersoch

  • This is a large, relatively sheltered sandy beach, on the south east facing side of the Lleyn Peninsula. The bathing water lies in the Lleyn Peninsula and the Sarnau Special Area of Conservation. To the north of the beach, the lower reaches of the Soch are designated as the Pen Benar Site of Special Scientific Interest, and inland to the west an area of land is designated as the Cors Llyferin Site of Special Scientific Interest. The water quality sample point is located in line with the slipway.
  • Gwynedd
  • Natural Resources Wales works to establish sources of pollution around Abersoch. Some of this work is carried out in partnership with Gwynedd 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). Investigations into the catchment have already been carried out and are informing Natural Resources Wales work to prevent pollution. These investigations will continue.
  • There is one storm / emergency outfall, located at the boatyard in the Soch Estuary where the Nant Mynytho enters the harbour.
  • 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 Gwynedd Council have been working together to improve the bathing water quality at Abersoch for a number of years. This includes working to trace the sources of pollution from household toilet and utility misconnections to the private and public surface water system that is discharging into Abersoch.
  • 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 Abersoch
  • Streams are typically affected by sewage or industrial run off from further up the catchment. The main river in the catchment is the Soch. This drains an extensive catchment, covering much of the south Lleyn. It has many tributaries, which have a large number of agricultural premises and caravan parks. This makes the river a potential source of reduced water quality after heavy rainfall. The Soch enters the sea on the north side of the east facing beach, in the harbour. There are also a number of smaller land drains and streams along the designated bathing water beach.
  • Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water has five sewage treatment works which discharge into the river catchment. There have been little or no reports of actual sewage pollution at Abersoch.
  • 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. Farms and caravan parks are visited regularly for pollution prevention checks. 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 area surrounding the bathing water is largely rural. There are many agricultural premises within the catchment, with most draining into tributaries of the River Soch.
  • 2014 39900:1

    • 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.

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