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bathing water description |
This is a very popular and well known bathing water in Ceredigion which lies adjacent
to another designated bathing water known as New Quay Harbour. This is a small sandy
cove to the sea-ward side of the harbour wall. At low tide the beach extends to approximately
120m wide with golden sand exposed. The beach is popular with both residents and tourists
alike and is popular for bathing, kayaking and surfing. The beach is accessed from
the town by a series of steps. The town of New Quay rises steeply behind the beach.
Natural Resources Wales's designated sample point is located to the centre of the
beach.
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county name |
Ceredigion |
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eso outfalls statement |
Within the catchment of New Quay North bathing water, there are numerous storm, emergency
and surface water outfalls that discharge into the coastal streams, particularly during
heavy rainfall. These protect domestic properties from being flooded by sewage during
heavy rainfall. However, sewer overflows operating during and following periods of
heavy rain can result in a deterioration in the quality of the water in the streams
and at New Quay North bathing water.
In recent years telemetry equipment has been installed in most of the overflows by
Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water. This technology has allowed Dŵr Cymru to respond to warnings
of blockages in the sewage system, and has reduced the number of actual and potential
overflows.
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history statement |
Natural Resources Wales has developed a good working relationship with Dŵr Cymru Welsh
Water and liaises regularly to identify problems that could affect bathing water quality.
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investigations statement |
Inspections are carried out by Natural Resources Wales in partnership with the local
authority and the water company. These are carried out pre-season (before the 1st
of May) and mid-season if required (during the bathing water season).
Natural Resources Wales continues to work with Ceredigion County Council and Dŵr Cymru
Welsh Water to establish sources of pollution around the beach.
Some planned work for 2012 was unable to be undertaken due to unforeseen circumstances.
This worked will be planned to be undertake prior to/during the 2013 bathing season.
Yellow Fish Project: The Yellow Fish project aims to promote awareness of the impacts
of diffuse pollution on water quality in streams, rivers and beaches. The Yellow Fish
project is planned to be undertaken with the local Girl Guides in New Quay to help
to raise awareness of the effects on pollutants entering drains in the town.
Boat Survey: A boat survey to plot the action of currents within New Quay bay would
be beneficial to understand the effects of within the bay.
Continued work is required to reduce bacteria loadings in the process effluent from
Quay Fresh & Frozen Foods. It is hoped that by reducing the bacterial loadings in
their effluent, bathing water quality may improve.
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local authority statement |
Natural Resources Wales and Ceredigion County Council work together to improve the
bathing water quality at New Quay North.
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macro algae statement |
This bathing water does not have a history of large amounts of seaweed (macroalgae). |
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misconnections statement |
Wrongly connected waste water pipes can affect the water quality of rivers and the
sea. Natural Resources Wales continues to work with Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water and Ceredigion
County Council to trace and rectify the sources of pollution from household toilet
and utility misconnections to the private and public surface water system, discharging
into New Quay North bathing water.
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.
Further investigations are required to determine any further misconnection/no connects
within New Quay. Numerous mis/no-connections were identified in 2011 and 2012, however
further investigations are required in 2013 to lower bacterial loadings in the culvert.
Investigations into possible misconnections on other surface water discharges onto
the beach are also required.
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phytoplankton statement |
Phytoplankton (microscopic algae) naturally increase in number at certain times of
the year. This process is known as a phytoplankton bloom. These algal blooms can occur
at any beach during the bathing season and are usually noticeable by a surface scum.
This beach does not have a history of such blooms.
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source |
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stw outfalls statement |
Sewage from New Quay is pumped to Llanina Sewage Treatment Works, approximately 2
kilometres along the coast, to the east of the beach. This discharges via a long sea
outfall to the coastal waters at Cardigan Bay, to protect bathing water quality.
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version string |
1 |
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working with industry statement |
Should industrial practices in the catchment be seen to be causing an impact on the
bathing waters at New Quay North, Natural Resources Wales will endeavour to work with
them to reduce the risks. A shellfish processing plant which operates under a licence
from the Welsh Assembly Government is located at the end of New Quay Point. Natural
Resources Wales with endeavour to establish if this operation has any impact on water
quality.
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zoi description |
The natural drainage (hydrological) catchment surrounding the bathing water is heavily
influenced by tourism, with large caravan sites located along the coastal belt. Most
of the area is residential property and agriculture.
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bathing water |
ukl1402-38688 |
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local authority |
Sir Ceredigion - Ceredigion |
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standard language collection |
2014-38688:1
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algae general statement |
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.
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eso outfalls general statement |
The majority of sewers in England and Wales 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.
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local authority general statement |
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.
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pollution management general statement |
It is the Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales role to drive improvement
of water quality at bathing waters that are at risk of failing European 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.
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stw outfalls general statement |
Discharges from sewage treatment works have improved substantially in England and
Wales since the 1980s.
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web res image |
ukl1402-38688_1-webres.jpg |
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