Beer is in Seaton Bay on the south coast of Devon. It is a pebble and sand beach,
approximately 1.2 kilometres wide, backed by cliffs and the village of Beer.
There is an emergency/storm overflow from the pumping station at Beer Car Park, that
discharges to the Beer Stream and through an outfall at the beach. There is also an
emergency/storm overflow from the pumping station at Beer Brook and Seaton Hole, that
discharges 600m northeast of Beer beach. The operation of the overflows can lead to
a temporary drop in bathing water quality.
Improvements to the Beer combined sewer overflow (CSO) were completed by South West
Water in March 1999. The South West Water sewage treatment scheme for Beer was completed
by July 2002. Wastewater from Beer is pumped approximately four kilometres to Seaton
sewage treatment works where it receives secondary treatment and ultraviolet (UV)
disinfection. The original outfall at Sea Hill has been retained as a CSO one and
a half kilometres south of Beer beach. Storm overflow event duration monitoring (EDM)
was installed at Beer Car Park and Memorial Gardens (Sea Hill) pumping stations in
April 2011.
The urban area of Beer immediately behind the beach is served by a combined (surface
and sewer) system.
In 2015 a Yellow Fish campaign was held with local volunteers to raise awareness of
sources of water pollution. The campaign highlighted the damage caused by pouring
oils, paints, solvents, chemicals or dirty water down highway gullies or surface drains.
For the four year (2020-2023) assessment period where data is available, seaweed (macroalgae)
was assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable for 2% of visits, with 59% 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.
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 4% of visits. Phytoplankton (microscopic algae) naturally
increase in number at certain times of the year. This process is known as a phytoplankton
bloom. These blooms can discolour the water or form as a foam on the water. 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 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 2 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.
Streams and rivers are typically affected by human sewage, animal slurry and runoff
from roads. The Beer Stream flows across the beach to the west of the Environment
Agency monitoring point. The Environment Agency have monitored the Beer Stream since
1995 and found that water quality is temporarily worse after heavy rainfall.
Environment Agency samplers make observations of litter present on the beach at every
visit, this includes assessments of sewage debris, litter and tar. At Beer for the
four year (2020-2023) 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 49% of visits. Tarry residue was not noted at
this site.
During and after periods of heavy rainfall, runoff from agricultural land is greatly
increased, and the quality of the bathing water can be reduced. The Environment Agency
are working with Natural England and farmers on Catchment Sensitive Farming programmes
to encourage better farming practices and improve water quality in the surrounding
areas.
There are caravan parks and hotels that are not on the main sewerage system and have
private sewage treatment arrangements. 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 catchment surrounding Beer is approximately 400 hectares. The Beer Stream is approximately
1.2km long and is mostly channelled underground as it flows through Beer. The stream
discharges via an outfall pipe just offshore approximately 100 metres (m) west of
the Environment Agency monitoring point. The steep catchment means rain runs off rapidly
into the Beer Stream. Land use is mostly agricultural with significant areas of land
used for livestock.
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.