|
|
|
bathing water description |
Blue Anchor is on the coast of Somerset overlooking the Bristol Channel. The beach
is shingle and sand, and the water has a naturally cloudy colour. The beach has a
shallow slope and a very large tidal range so that it can be up to half a kilometre
to the sea at low tide. The Pill River enters the sea to the right of the Environment
Agency monitoring point. The Carhampton Stream also drains to the beach to the left
of the Environment Agency monitoring point.
|
![more like this](/lda-assets/images/grey/16x16/Search.png) |
county name |
Somerset |
![more like this](/lda-assets/images/grey/16x16/Search.png) |
eso outfalls statement |
There is an emergency/storm overflow from the Blue Anchor pumping station that discharges
into the Pill River at the bathing water. The operation of the oveflow can lead to
a drop in bathing water quality.
|
![more like this](/lda-assets/images/grey/16x16/Search.png) |
history statement |
The Wessex Water sewage treatment scheme for Minehead, which provides secondary treatment
and ultraviolet disinfection, was completed in October 1999. Improvements were also
made to the sewerage system to reduce the frequency of overflows at that time.
Watchet sewage treatment works (STW) discharges four and a half kilometres east of
the Environment Agency monitoring point at Blue Anchor. Emergency overflows and storm
overflows in Watchet were improved by the end of 2001, and secondary treatment was
installed at Watchet STW by the end of 2002. The storm outfall at Bilbrook was also
improved at that time.
The Environment Agency are working with Wessex Water to carry out a review of sewerage
performance within the Blue Anchor area. The Environment Agency will make recommendations
for further improvements to protect and improve the bathing water quality.
|
![more like this](/lda-assets/images/grey/16x16/Search.png) |
investigations statement |
In 2009, the Environment Agency carried out extensive additional catchment monitoring
in the Pill River alongside the Environment Agency routine bathing water monitoring.
The Environment Agency are using a DNA tracing technique that helps us identify whether
sources of faecal pollution are animal or human. The results suggested there is a
contribution from both animal and human sources. The contribution from animals is
greater when faecal levels at the bathing water are higher. This has helped us target
further investigations to pinpoint pollution problems and improve the bathing water
quality.
The Environment Agency have also walked up the catchment to identify potential sources
of pollution including misconnections, poorly maintained private sewerage systems,
leaking sewers and unsuitable farming practices.
|
![more like this](/lda-assets/images/grey/16x16/Search.png) |
local authority statement |
There are outfalls along the beach which drain surface water from the road and surrounding
area.
|
![more like this](/lda-assets/images/grey/16x16/Search.png) |
macro algae statement |
This bathing water does not have a history of large amounts of seaweed (macroalgae). |
![more like this](/lda-assets/images/grey/16x16/Search.png) |
misconnections statement |
Wrongly connected domestic waste water pipes can also affect the bathing water quality.
The Environment Agecy have checked the local sewerage systems at Bilbrook, Carhampton,
Old Cleeve and other areas in the lower catchment for misconnections. The Environment
Agecy have worked with Somerset County Council and Wessex Water to identify and rectify
any problems.
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.
|
![more like this](/lda-assets/images/grey/16x16/Search.png) |
phytoplankton statement |
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.
|
![more like this](/lda-assets/images/grey/16x16/Search.png) |
stw outfalls statement |
The outfalls from Minehead and Watchet STWs discharge four and a half kilometres west
and east of the Environment Agency monitoring point respectivey. These discharges
are treated and designed to protect bathing water quality.
|
![more like this](/lda-assets/images/grey/16x16/Search.png) |
version string |
1 |
![more like this](/lda-assets/images/grey/16x16/Search.png) |
zoi description |
The catchment surrounding Blue Anchor West is approximately 2,200 hectares. The Pill
River and the Carhampton Stream enter the sea at the beach. The upper areas of the
catchment are steeply sloping, whereas the lower areas north of the A39 are flatter.
The steep catchment means rain runs off rapidly into the river and stream. Land use
is mainly agricultural, including mixed livestock and a small amount of arable. There
is also domestic and recreational land, small villages, and caravan parks.
|
![more like this](/lda-assets/images/grey/16x16/Search.png) |
bathing water |
|
local authority |
West Somerset Council |
![more like this](/lda-assets/images/grey/16x16/Search.png) |
source |
line=000366 |
|
standard language collection |
2012:1
|
|
|
algae general statement |
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.
|
![more like this](/lda-assets/images/grey/16x16/Search.png) |
eso outfalls general statement |
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.
|
![more like this](/lda-assets/images/grey/16x16/Search.png) |
local authority general statement |
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.
|
![more like this](/lda-assets/images/grey/16x16/Search.png) |
pollution management general statement |
It is the Environment Agency’s 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.
|
![more like this](/lda-assets/images/grey/16x16/Search.png) |
stw outfalls general statement |
Discharges from sewage treatment works have improved substantially in England and
Wales since the 1980s.
|
![more like this](/lda-assets/images/grey/16x16/Search.png) |
|
web res image |
ukk2305-35200_1-webres.jpg |
|