Lusty Glaze is a privately owned beached in Newquay Bay on the north coast of Cornwall.
It is a sandy beach resort approximately 220 metres wide backed by cliffs and the
town of Newquay.
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 Newquay, which provides secondary treatment and ultraviolet
disinfection, was completed by South West Water in April 2000. Extensive sewerage
work to combined sewer overflows in the Newquay area was also carried out at that
time.
The urban area of Newquay immediately behind the beach is served by a combined (surface
and sewer) system. There are no outfalls from the system onto the beach.
For the four year (2015-2018) assessment period where data is available, seaweed (macroalgae)
was assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable for 4% of visits, with 72% of
visits noting the presence of seaweed (macroalgae). This bathing water does not have
a history of large amounts of seaweed (macro algae).
For the four year (2015-2018) 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.
Streams and rivers are typically affected by human sewage, animal slurry and runoff
from roads. The Porth Stream flows the sea 350m northeast of this beach. The Environment
Agency have monitored the stream since 1990 and found that it does not affect the
bathing water.
The outfall for the Newquay STW discharges into the sea approximately 2.4km northwest
of Lusty Glaze bathing water at Towan Head. This discharge is disinfected and designed
to protect bathing 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 Lusty Glaze
for the four year (2015-2018) assessment period where data is available, sewage debris
was not assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable, but was observed as being
present on 2% of visits. Litter was not assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable,
but was observed as being present on 56% of visits. Tarry residue was not noted at
this site.
The catchment surrounding Lusty Glaze is approximately 3,680 hectares. There is no
stream which enters the sea at this bathing water, however, the mouth of the Porth
Stream is 350 metres (m) to the northeast. The Porth (Whipsiderry) Stream is approximately
12 kilometres (km) (18km long including major tributaries) and rises near Ruthvoes
at the eastern edge of the catchment close to the A30. The stream feeds the Porth
Reservoir eight kilometres inland then flows to the coast at Porth where it enters
the sea at the northern end of the beach.
The steep catchment means rain runs off rapidly into the stream especially towards
the coast. Land use is mostly agricultural, with around 20 farms. The rural areas
are a patchwork of improved grassland, arable and mixed woodland. The urban areas
include parts of Newquay, St Columb Major and Indian Queens and there are caravan
sites within the catchment.
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.
