Bantham is at the mouth of the River Avon on the south coast of Devon. It is a fairly
remote sandy beach, approximately 550 metres wide, backed by sand dunes.
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 South West Water sewage treatment scheme for Bigbury and Challaborough, which
provides secondary treatment, was completed in 1995. Following concerns over shellfish
quality in the Avon Estuary, South West Water also installed a temporary ultraviolet
(UV) disinfection plant at Aveton Gifford sewage treatment works (STW) in 1998. This
was replaced with a permanent UV installation in October 2001. Aveton Gifford STW
also received increased storm storage in February 2002.
Two emergency overflows at Bigbury and Warren Point were improved by April 2003, and
the combined sewer overflow/emergency overflow at Challaborough pumping station was
improved by April 2003. First time sewerage was installed at Buckland in 2005 and
sewage is pumped to South Milton STW for treatment.
Further improvements to protect shellfish waters are scheduled to be completed at
Brent Mill CSO by June 2021.
In 2016 the Environment Agency carried out a programme of investigations and work
in this catchment to help improve bathing water quality. This included catchment walkovers
and checks of pumping station compliance. A public engagement day on the beach and
a local campaign for improved farming practices also took place.
The urban areas of Bantham and Buckland immediately behind the beach are served by
a combined (surface and sewer) system. There are no outfalls from the system onto
the beach.
For the four year (2020-2023) assessment period where data is available, seaweed (macroalgae)
was assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable for 16% of visits, with 79% of
visits noting the presence of seaweed (macroalgae). The bathing water can become covered
with large amounts of seaweed at certain times of the year, depending on tides and
the weather. Groynes and rocks, platforms or other fixed objects may also develop
a covering of seaweed which can be slippery.
Wrongly connected domestic waste water pipes can also affect the bathing water quality.
We have checked the local sewerage system for misconnections. As a result a number
of private properties have been connected to the Buckland STW.
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 2% 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 has some 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, tide, 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 8 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.
Bantham bathing water is next to the estuary of the River Avon, and the natural effects
of the wind and tide in the estuary can affect the bathing water quality. Additionally,
the Buckland Stream flows across the beach to the south of the Environment Agency
monitoring point. The Environment Agency have monitored the River Avon since 1988,
and the Buckland Stream near the lifeguards hut since 1991. The Environment Agency
have found that it can be affected by sewage and runoff from livestock farms from
further up the catchment.
The outfall from Bigbury and Challaborough STW discharges to the sea at Warren Point
approximately one and a half kilometres west of the Environment Agency monitoring
point at Bantham. The outfall from Aveton Gifford STW discharges to the River Avon
approximately five kilometres upstream of the bathing water. These discharges are
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 Bantham 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 54% of visits. Tarry residue was not noted at
this site.
There are more than 50 farms in the catchment, most of which are beef and sheep. During
and after periods of heavy rainfall, runoff from agricultural areas to the Buckland
Stream is greatly increased, and the quality of the bathing water may be reduced.
The Environment Agency have worked with Natural England and farmers on Catchment Sensitive
Farming programmes to encourage better farming practices and improve water quality
in the surrounding area.
There is a private STW which serves Bantham and many properties have private sewage
treatment arrangements. If any concerns arise, the Environment Agency will investigate
and request immediate remedial action from those responsible.
The Environment Agency has worked with private owners to ensure they participate in
the Pollution Risk Forecasting scheme for this bathing water.
The catchment surrounding Bantham is approximately 15,000 hectares. The River Avon
and its major tributaries (the Bala Brook and the Glaze Brook) rise on south Dartmoor.
The Avon flows for 37 kilometres through the Avon Reservoir, South Brent, Avonwick,
Loddiswell and Aveton Gifford before reaching the estuary mouth at Bantham and Bigbury
on Sea. As the river flows from the open moorland, it has created steep sided valleys
with small enclosures mostly used for small scale livestock farming. The steep catchment
means rain runs off rapidly into the many small streams that feed the River Avon.
The estuary of the Avon is tidal up as far as the weir at Aveton Gifford, and like
the other estuaries of South Devon, the original deep river valley has been flooded
by sea level rise, to create a wide expanse of water. The Buckland Stream is approximately
five kilometres long and enters the sea at the eastern end of the beach. The catchment
is mostly agricultural, with more than 50 farms.
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.
