There is an emergency/storm overflow, that serves the storage tank at Paignton Green,
the pumping station at Clennon Valley, and Roundham Round No 1. This overflow discharges
to the sea 520m southeast of the Environment Agency monitoring point.
There is an emergency/storm overflow, that serves the pumping station at Clennon Valley,
and Roundham Round No 2. This overflow discharges to the sea 230m south of the Environment
Agency monitoring point.
The operation of the overflows 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 main water company affects on Paignton Sands bathing water were from
intermittent discharges entering Tor Bay and the untreated outfall at Hopes Nose.
In April 1997, improvements to the storm water storage tanks for Paignton and Preston
Green combined sewer overflows (CSO) were completed. The continuous outfall at Hopes
Nose was 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 CSOs and pumping stations including improvements to
the Littlegate Road CSO, that discharges to the Victoria Stream at the bathing water,
the Roundham Road CSO, that discharges at Paignton Sands and the Clennon Valley CSO,
that discharges at Goodrington Sands.
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 Littlegate Road, Paignton
Green Tank, and Roundham Road by May 2011, and work to reduce the frequency of discharges
from Littlegate Road CSO was completed by April 2015.
The Environment Agency carried out surveys to identify possible sources of contamination
to the Victoria Stream in 2007 and 2008. A number of sources were found and these
problems have been resolved. A project during 2009 highlighted properties wrongly
connected to the surface water system, and these have been corrected. In 2010 a dedicated
Torbay Beach Project Officer investigated further and took samples. The Environment
Agency are using a DNA tracing technique to help us identify whether sources of faecal
pollution are human or animal. The Environment Agency are working with South West
Water to carry out a review of sewerage performance within the Torbay area and will
make recommendations for improvements to protect and improve the bathing water quality.
Investigations have shown that a large source of pollution at present is the high
number of seabirds in the vicinity of the bathing water, which are attracted by the
freshwater input of the Victoria Stream.
The Environment Agency are planning to conduct a dye tracing study in 2017 to increase
understanding of the impact of the Victoira Stream on the bathing water.
The urban area of Paignton immediately behind the beach is served by a combined (surface
and sewer) system. There are no outfalls from the system onto the beach.
The Environment Agency has provided the Local Authority with additional bird scarers
to help discourage seabirds from the bathing water during the bathing season.
For the four year (2020-2023) assessment period where data is available, seaweed (macroalgae)
was assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable for 10% of visits, with 68% of
visits noting the presence of seaweed (macroalgae). This bathing water does not have
a history of large amounts of seaweed (macro algae).
Wrongly connected domestic waste water pipes can also affect the bathing water quality.
We have checked the local sewerage system for misconnections. We are working with
Torbay Council and South West Water to identify and rectify any problems when they
arise.
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 noted at this site. 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.
This bathing water is subject to short term pollution procedures. The Environment
Agency makes a daily pollution risk forecast at this site based on the effects of
rain, wind, sunlight and seasonality on bathing water quality. These factors affect
the levels of bacteria that get washed into the sea from livestock, sewage and urban
drainage via rivers and streams and how they disperse.
When these factors combine to make short term pollution likely we issue a pollution
risk warning on this website and the beach manager will display a sign advising against
bathing at the bathing water. After a short term pollution event, levels of bacteria
typically return to normal after a day or so but it’s possible to have several warning
days in a row. Details of the work to reduce the sources of bacteria at this bathing
water are detailed in this profile.
In 2023 7 pollution risk warnings were issued for this bathing water.
All bathing waters have the potential to be affected by a pollution incident and if
this occurs a pollution risk warning will be issued with associated advice against
bathing on this website.
The Victoria Stream flows onto the beach to the north of the Environment Agency monitoring
point. The Environment Agency have monitored the stream between 2004 and 2014, and
found that it is affected by runoff from urban areas and highway drains.
Environment Agency samplers make observations of litter present on the beach at every
visit, this includes assessments of sewage debris, litter and tar. At Paignton Paignton
Sands 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 43% of visits. Tarry residue
was not noted at this site.
There are some private discharges with potential to cause pollution, however at present
the Environment Agency do not believe these are a source of pollution to the bathing
water. If any concerns arise, the Environment Agency will investigate and request
immediate remedial action from those responsible.
The urban catchment surrounding Paignton Sands is approximately 225 hectares, and
includes the 1.8 kilometre long Victoria Stream in the low-lying area of Paignton
town centre. The majority of the stream is channelled underground. It is fed by surface
water sewers, highway drains, and land drainage before it discharges to coastal waters
near Paignton Pier. The steep catchment means rain runs off rapidly into the stream.
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.
