There is an emergency overflow from the Dawlish (Royal Hotel) pumping station that
discharges to Dawlish Water at the beach 260m from the Environment Agency monitoring
point.
There is a storm overflow from Sea Lawns that discharges to the sea 350m northeast
of the Environment Agency monitoring point. There is a storm overflow from the Viaduct
High Level Storm Tank that discharges to Dawlish Water 200m upstream from the beach.
There is a storm overflow at the Dawlish Breakwater that discharges to the sea 300m
from the Environment Agency monitoring point. There is a storm overflow from Barton
Hill/Brunswick Place that discharges to Dawlish Water 650m upstream from the beach.
The operation of the overflows can lead to a temporary drop in bathing water quality.
In 2022 SWW completed work on Brook St Manor Gardens storm overflow to target an improved
performance of 2 significant spills per bathing season on average. To reduce flow
volumes in sewers a new storm storage tank was constructed along with new surface
water sewers in the area to take rainfall from highways directly into the watercourse.
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Improvements to the storm overflows discharging to Dawlish Water were completed by
South West Water in March 2000. The sewage treatment scheme for Dawlish was completed
in 2000. The scheme included a sewage treatment works at Timaru Gardens which provides
secondary treatment and ultraviolet (UV) disinfection. During 2011 and 2012, storm
overflow event duration monitoring (EDM) was installed at ten storm overflows discharging
to the Exe estuary, Dawlish Water, and Lyme Bay.
Improvements to Brook Street CSO, which discharges into Dawlish Water, are due for
completion by March 2025.
The Environment Agency have carried out tracer studies and found that Dawlish Water
affects the water quality at Dawlish Town. The Environment Agency have used a DNA
tracing technique to help us identify whether sources of faecal pollution are human
or animal, and found inputs from both human and animal sources. In 2008 this method
was used at Dawlish Town and in the river catchment to help us make recommendations
for further improvements to protect and improve the bathing water quality. In 2015
the Environment Agency carried out a survey to look at the suitability of the bathing
water monitoring point. As a result of this study, the monitoring point was relocated
for the 2016 bathing season.
During the 2022 bathing season stream monitoring was begun, In 2023, elevated bacteria
was detected from the Dawlish water stream.
In the 2023 bathing season we added additional freshwater monitoring to 2023 programme
at Stoneleads Bridge, which we continue into the 2024 season
The urban area of Dawlish immediately behind the beach is served by a combined (surface
and sewer) system. A large avian influence in bacterial samples is due to Pigeons
roosting under the railway bridge, Teignbridge Council will follow up with network
rail to solve this.
The fountain in Dawlish Water has been cleaned by the council in order to reduce impacts
on the bathing water.
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 74% 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
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 assessed as being sufficient to be objectionable, but
was observed as being present on 5% 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.
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 16 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.
SWW are investigating possibilities of separating the surface drains from the sewerage
network. By 2025, these will drain the rainwater directly to the sea via existing
surface water sewers. Reducing the volume of water in the network will reduce the
need for storm overflows to operate.
All spill data from wastewater assets will be reviewed and compared against elevated
bathing water results. The EA will be monitoring the bathing water in 2024 alongside
two freshwater sites to increase understanding of pollution sources. Elevated samples
will be investigated to confirm avian influence on the Bathing Water.
Streams and rivers are typically affected by human sewage, animal slurry and runoff
from roads. The Dawlish Water flows across the beach at this bathing water to the
west of the Environment Agency monitoring point. The Environment Agency have monitored
the Dawlish Water since 1993, and found that inputs higher in the catchment can affect
the bathing water.
The Dawlish STW outfall discharges to the sea 930m offshore from Dawlish Town bathing
water. The discharge is disinfected and 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 Dawlish Town
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 75% of visits. Tarry residue was not noted at
this site.
There are farms in the catchment, most of which are beef and sheep. 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.
The catchment surrounding Dawlish Town is approximately 2400 hectares. The steep catchment
means rain runs off rapidly into the stream. Land in the catchment is mainly used
for agriculture, with more than 20 farms 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.