Shaldon is at the mouth of the Teign Estuary on the south coast of Devon. It is a
sandy beach, approximately 1.3 kilometres wide, close to the village of Shaldon.
There is an emergency/storm overflow from the Gales Hill pumping station that discharges
to the estuary 220 metres from the beach. The operation of the overflow can lead to
a temporary drop in bathing water quality at Shaldon.
The South West Water sewage treatment scheme for Teignmouth was identified for the
protection of Teignmouth and Shaldon bathing waters. The scheme was completed at the
end of 2000 and collects sewage from Newton Abbot, the Aller Valley, Milber, Combeinteignhead,
Shaldon, Teignmouth, Bishopsteignton and Kingsteignton. Sewage receives secondary
treatment and is discharged through a two kilometre long sea outfall.
Stokeinteignhead was connected to the Teignmouth sewerage system in 2003. Improvements
to 24 combined sewer overflows (CSO) in the Teign Estuary including 14 in Newton Abbot
and 10 in Teignmouth were completed by the end of March 2004. A further 18 CSOs including
12 in Newton Abbot and six in Teignmouth were improved by the end of March 2005.
Storm overflow event duration monitoring (EDM) was installed at Gales Hill, King George
Field, and Milford Park pumping stations by April 2011.
The following discharges into the Teign Estuary have also been improved to protect
shellfish waters: East Ogwell STW (March 2018), Chudleigh Knighton STW (March 2018),
Summerhill pumping station overflow (December 2017) and Chudleigh STW storm overflows
(December 2017).
The urban area of Shaldon immediately behind the beach is 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 6% of visits, with 89% 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 and Teignmouth Pier for
roosting birds, as their faeces can also affect 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 12% 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, tide and sunlight 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 3 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. Shaldon bathing water is in the estuary of the River Teign, and the natural
effects of the wind and tide in the estuary can affect the bathing water quality.
The outfall from Teignmouth STW at Buckland is two and a half kilometres offshore
of the bathing water. This discharge is 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 Shaldon 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 73% of visits noting the presence of litter. Tarry residue
was not noted at this site.
There are more than 20 farms in the Teign catchment. During and after periods of heavy
rainfall, runoff to the River Teign from agricultural land is greatly increased, and
the quality of the bathing water can be reduced.
There are caravan parks and hotels in the area 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.
Shaldon is at the mouth of the Teign Estuary and the catchment is approximately 52,600
hectares. The Teign Estuary discharges approximately half a kilometre to the south
of the bathing water. The 42km long River Teign rises on North Dartmoor and its main
tributaries are the Aller Brook and rivers Lemon and Bovey. The Aller Brook sub catchment
is the most populated.
In the lower reaches of the Teign the floodplain is wide and gently sloping. At Newton
Abbot the Teign enters a long narrow estuary which is the most easterly of Devon's
drowned river valleys (rias). The coastal landscape at Teignmouth and Shaldon is characterised
by red sandstone cliffs. The catchment is mostly agricultural, with more than 20 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.