There is an emergency/storm overflow from the Beach Road pumping station, that discharges
to the sea 200m to the west of the beach at Withy Point. The operation of the overflow
can lead to a temporary drop in bathing water quality.
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/
In the past the bathing water was affected by the continuous untreated outfall at
Withy Point on the eastern edge of the beach, and the untreated outfall at Hopes Nose.
Both of these continuous discharges were removed as part of South West Water's sewage
treatment scheme for Torbay which was commissioned in May 2002. The scheme consisted
of extensive resewerage and improvements to unsatisfactory combined sewer overflows
(CSO) and pumping stations. Babbacombe is served by combined sewers, which drain by
gravity to Ilsham Valley pumping station from where flows are pumped to Torbay for
treatment.
A sewage works was built at Brokenbury Quarry in 2002 where effluent receives secondary
treatment and ultraviolet (UV) disinfection before discharge through an extended outfall
at Sharkham Point. Flows from the untreated outfall at Hopes Nose were transferred
to Brokenbury by June 2003, and this outfall was retained as a CSO.
Storm overflow event duration monitoring (EDM) was installed at the Beach Road pumping
station by April 2011.
The urban area of Babbacombe immediately behind the beach is served by a combined
(surface and sewer) system. There are no outfalls from the system onto the beach.
There is an outfall beside the pier which can contain surface water from the surrounding
area.
For the four year (2020-2023) assessment period where data is available, seaweed (macroalgae)
was assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable for 11% of visits, with 86% 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 (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 3% 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.
Environment Agency samplers make observations of litter present on the beach at every
visit, this includes assessments of sewage debris, litter and tar. At Babbacombe for
the four year (2020-2023) assessment period where data is available, sewage debris
was not noted at this site. Litter was assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable
for 3% of visits, with 62% of visits noting the presence of litter. Tarry residue
was not noted at this site.
The catchment surrounding Babbacombe is approximately 15 hectares. There are no streams
within the beach area. The small urban area of Babbacombe is set back behind the steep
wooded cliffs that surround the beach.
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.
