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bathing water description |
Measuring approximately 4 kilometres in length, this beach is sandy, with a pebble
bank above the high tide mark. It faces south out into the Bristol Channel and is
backed by rocky cliffs on either end, with a promenade over looking the beach. At
low tide, the waters are shallow and a distance from the shore front. Amroth coastal
waters and coastal belt forms part of the Carmarthen Bay Special Area of Conservation,
confirming the high level of conservation status of the area. The bathing water also
lies within Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. The water quality sample point lies
at the centre of the beach, directly in front of the slip way.
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county name |
Pembrokeshire |
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eso outfalls statement |
During storm conditions, discharge from storm overflows can occur. These discharges
occur when heavy rainfall overwhelms the sewage system and causes diluted sewage to
spill. These protect domestic properties in Amroth from being flooded by sewage during
heavy rainfall and are prioritised and inspected as part of a co-ordinated beach management
plan.
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history statement |
Natural Resources Wales liaises with Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water, to review discharge consents
and monitor performance of the water company's assets in the Amroth Catchment.
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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).
In 2008, a DNA tracer investigation was carried out at Amroth, to assess the bacteria
levels of the three rivers (Colby River, Castle Stream and New Inn Stream).
The results of this investigation inform and influence Natural Resources Wales’ pollution
prevention work.
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local authority statement |
Natural Resources Wales and Pembrokeshire County Council have been working together
to maintain the bathing water quality at Amroth for a number of years.
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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. Any suspect misconnections will be passed to Pembrokeshire County Council for
investigation.
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 has a history of such blooms.
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source |
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stw outfalls statement |
Amroth is served by Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water Sewage Treatment Network. Some inland properties
and caravan parks have private treatment systems.
The 2 Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water pumping stations, pump crude sewage to the sewage treatment
works. This is located 700 metres inland, on the New Inn Stream. These pumping stations
are consented to discharge to the New Inn Stream and Colby River during storm conditions.
The Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water Sewage Treatment Works discharges treated effluent to the
New Inn Steam, which meets the sea at Amroth. The asset is well maintained and fitted
with a tertiary, ultra-violet disinfection process, to protect 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 largely
agricultural, with some caravan holiday parks within the small village of Amroth on
the sea front. Three rivers (Colby River, Castle Stream and New Inn Stream) drain
the catchment and meet the sea a short distance from the sample point.
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bathing water |
ukl1403-37900 |
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local authority |
Sir Benfro - Pembrokeshire |
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standard language collection |
2014-37900:1
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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 |
ukl1403-37900_1-webres.jpg |
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