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bathing water description |
Aberystwyth North is a sloping shingle beach, it is relatively wide, measuring some
750 metres in length. The beach is situated to the centre of Cardigan Bay, facing
west, enclosed by rocky outcrops, backed by a promenade and the Edwardian town of
Aberystwyth. The water quality sample point is situated directly in front of the bandstand.
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county name |
Ceredigion |
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eso outfalls statement |
Aberystwyth North is potentially impacted by numerous storm, emergency and surface
water outfalls within the main freshwater rivers, particularly during heavy rainfall.
Within the catchment of Aberystwyth North bathing water, there are numerous storm,
emergency and surface water outfalls that discharge into the streams of Lovers Dingle
and Nant Penglais. 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 reduced water quality in streams and the bathing water.
Most of the overflows operated by Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water have telemetry equipment.
This technology allows 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.
In 2009, a rising main sewer system was significantly upgraded. This resulted in increased
storage capacity and reduced storm overflows, which should improve the water quality
at Aberystwyth North beach.
Natural Resources Wales worked closely with Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water to ensure this work
was completed without causing pollution.
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investigations statement |
Natural Resources Wales continues to work with Ceredigion County Council and Dŵr Cymru
Welsh Water to establish sources of pollution around the beach.
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).
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local authority statement |
Natural Resources Wales and Ceredigion County Council work together to improve the
bathing water quality in Aberystwyth.
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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 Aberystwyth 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.
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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 |
Aberystwyth Wastewater Treatment works discharges into the Afon Rheidol, which flows
onto the other EC designated beach at Aberystwyth South. Disinfection through ultra-violet
treatment of the effluent ensures protection of the bathing water quality.
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version string |
1 |
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zoi description |
The natural drainage (hydrological) catchment surrounding the bathing water is highly
urbanised, with shops, bars, residential properties, student accommodation and the
Aberystwyth University Campus. The larger catchments of the rivers Rheidol and Ystwyth
have large agricultural sectors, the former also has a small industrial sector.
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bathing water |
ukl1402-38900 |
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local authority |
Sir Ceredigion - Ceredigion |
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standard language collection |
2014-38900:1
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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 |
ukl1402-38900_1-webres.jpg |
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