Bathing water quality is influenced by the Plym and Tamar rivers, and may reduce during or after periods of heavy rainfall due to run off from agricultural land, urban areas, and occasional discharges from storm overflows and surface water outfalls. Bird faeces can also affect the water quality.
This bathing water is subject to short term pollution. The Environment Agency makes daily pollution risk forecasts based on rainfall and tidal patterns. A pollution risk warning is issued if heavy rainfall occurs to enable bathers to avoid periods when bathing water quality may be reduced. This may last between 1-3 days. In 2018 warnings were issued on 7 days.