2024 Bathing Water Profile for Bovisand
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Bovisand is on the south coast of Devon. It is a remote sandy bay, approximately 100 metres wide, surrounded by cliffs. There is a small stream that flows over the beach to the sea.
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South Hams
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Devon
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The Environment Agency periodically carries out additional catchment monitoring, and this is used to make recommendations for further improvements to protect and improve bathing water quality.
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2024 Bathing Water Profile for Bovisand
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For the four year (2020-2023) assessment period where data is available, seaweed (macroalgae) was assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable for 23% of visits, with 71% of visits noting the presence of seaweed (macroalgae). The bathing water can become covered with large amounts of seaweed, depending on tides and the weather. This bathing water has a history of large amounts of seaweed.
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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.
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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.
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2024 Bathing Water Profile for Bovisand
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2024-09-30
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2024-05-01
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This bathing water beach often has patches of seaweed (macroalgae).
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Bathing water quality is influenced by the Bovisand stream, and may reduce during or after periods of heavy rainfall due to run off from agricultural land and the surrounding urban area.
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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 the bathing water profile.
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Streams and rivers are typically affected by human sewage, animal slurry and runoff from roads. The Bovisand Stream flows onto the beach. The Environment Agency have monitored the stream since 1992 and found that water quality is temporarily worse during and after heavy rainfall. The Bovisand Steam also occasionally has elevated bacterial levels during dry weather from private sewage treatment works.
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Environment Agency samplers make observations of litter present on the beach at every visit, this includes assessments of sewage debris, litter and tar. At Bovisand 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 2% of visits, with 70% of visits noting the presence of litter. Tarry residue was not noted at this site.
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During and after periods of heavy rainfall, runoff to the Bovisand Stream from agricultural land is greatly increased, and the quality of the bathing water can be reduced.
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There are caravan parks and hotels that are not on the main sewerage system and have private sewage treatment arrangements. If any concerns arise, the Environment Agency will investigate and request immediate remedial action from those responsible.
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The catchment surrounding Bovisand is approximately 180 hectares. The Bovisand Stream is approximately 1.4 kilometres long and enters the sea at the bathing water. Land use is mostly agricultural with just one or two farms.
