Swanpool is on the south coast of Cornwall. It is a pebble and sandy beach resort,
approximately 140 metres wide, backed by the Swanpool Nature Reserve.
There is an emergency/storm overflow from the Queen Mary Gardens pumping station that
discharges to the sea approximately 420m east of the bathing water. The operation
of the overflow can lead to a temporary drop in the bathing water quality, although
such events appear to be rare.
This bathing water is included in the Surfers Against Sewage “Safer Seas Service”.
This service can alert you to Combined Storm Sewer Overflow discharges via a phone
App and in addition, it includes the Environment Agency Pollution Risk Forecast warnings
where they are available. Further details of the service can be found at - http://www.sas.org.uk/safer-seas-service/
The sewage treatment scheme for Falmouth was partially completed by South West Water
in 1998. The scheme included the replacement of the untreated sewage discharges at
Middle Point and Pennance Point with a 690m long outfall off Black Rock in Carrick
Roads. Screened effluent was discharged through this outfall on the ebb tide only,
using a storm sewage tunnel for tidal storage.
The final scheme for Falmouth, which provides secondary treatment, sand filtration
and ultraviolet (UV) disinfection for sewage from Falmouth and Flushing, was completed
in 2000. The scheme also included the removal of the Severn Stars combined sewer overflow
(CSO) at Flushing, and improvements to the CSOs at Mylor Bridge, and Market Street
and Bake House Yard in the Penryn River in 2001.
Further upper the catchment, improvements were made in 2002 to the continuous discharges
at Ladock, Mylor, St Mawes and 13 CSOs in Truro. A further three CSOs in Truro were
improved in 2003, together with CSOs at Malpas, Ladock and Truro STWs, and the pumping
station at Devoran.
Storm overflow event duration monitoring (EDM) was installed at Queen Mary Gardens,
Swanvale, and Swanpool pumping stations by December 2011.
The following discharges are scheduled to be improved to protect shellfish waters:
St Just in Roseland STW (by March 2023), Castle Street CSO (by June 2021), St Thomas
Street CSO (by March 2023), and emergency/storm overflows at St Mawes No 1 and No
2 pumping stations (by March 2023).
Following a deterioration in water quality at Swanpool bathing water during 2022,
the Environment Agency carried out additional monitoring of the outfall from Swan
Pool alongside routine bathing water monitoring. We used a DNA tracing technique to
help us identify whether sources of faecal pollution were animal or human. These investigations
have found that on occasion, during wet weather, elevated bacteria was found in the
outfall from Swan Pool. The source of elevated bacteria was a mix of human and seabird,
with a smaller contribution from dogs and other birds. Environment Agency Officers
are working with SWW misconnections team to resolve sewage related sources as they
are identified. Catchment monitoring will continue to further identify sources of
bacteria and inform further remedial actions.
The urban area of Swanpool immediately behind the beach is served by a combined (surface
and sewer) system. The Environment Agency have regularly inspected and sampled surface
water outfalls.
For the four year (2020-2023) assessment period where data is available, seaweed (macroalgae)
was assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable for 49% of visits, with 49% of
visits noting the presence of seaweed (macroalgae). The bathing water can become covered
with large amounts of seaweed, depending on tides and the weather. This bathing water
does not have a history of large amounts of seaweed, but that it can be noticeable
from time to time.
Wrongly connected domestic waste water pipes can also affect the bathing water quality.
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.
For the four year (2020-2023) assessment period where data is available, phytoplankton
(microscopic algae) was not assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable, but
was observed as being present on 2% of visits. 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.
The risks to human health from contact, ingestion or inhalation with marine algae
that currently occur in UK coastal waters are considered to be low. However, some
individuals may be more sensitive and display some reactions.
A common marine algae found in UK coastal waters is Phaeocystis, which is often mistaken
for sewage as it forms foam and a brown scum, but it is non-toxic.
There are no active pollution risk forecasts made at this bathing water. However any
bathing water has the potential to be affected by a pollution incident and if this
occurs a pollution risk warning with associated advice against bathing will be issued
on this website.
If investigative sampling of Swanpool Stream upstream on the Swan Pool demonstrates
elevated bacterial levels, the EA will revisit the surface water outfalls identified,
recording, and sampling any outfalls as necessary. The EA will Inform the SWW Misconnection
team of any pollution found. Additional freshwater sampling will be undertaken throughout
the 2024 bathing season.
Streams and rivers are typically affected by human sewage, animal slurry and runoff
from roads. The Swanpool Stream flows onto this beach. The Environment Agency have
monitored the stream between 1992 and 2008, and found that water quality is temporarily
worse during and after heavy rainfall.
The outfall from Falmouth STW discharges to the Carrick Roads 3.3km east of the bathing
water. This discharge is disinfected and designed to protect water quality.
Environment Agency samplers make observations of litter present on the beach at every
visit, this includes assessments of sewage debris, litter and tar. At Swanpool for
the four year (2020-2023) assessment period where data is available, sewage debris
was not noted at this site. Litter was not assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable,
but was observed as being present on 55% of visits. Tarry residue was not noted at
this site.
The Environment Agency have worked with businesses on the small industrial estate
at Swanpool to ensure there is no effect on the bathing water quality from this site.
The catchment surrounding Swanpool is approximately 340 hectares. The Swanpool Stream
(also known as Bickland Water) is a small stream approximately 3.2 kilometres (km)
long which collects runoff from the Swanvale urban catchment. The stream feeds the
Swan Pool, which is a 500m wide lagoon behind the beach designated as a Site of Special
Scientific Interest (SSSI). The pool is cut off from the sea by a shingle bar forming
a large freshwater lake, but is still connected to the sea via a tidal underground
channel. This maintains brackish water conditions in the pool.
The upper catchment is fairly flat around Higher Kergilliack and gently slopes down
to Swanpool. Land use is mostly urban.
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 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 role to drive improvement of water quality at bathing
waters that are at risk of failing higher 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.
