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bathing water description |
This sandy beach is approximately 500 metres across, faces south east over Carmarthen
Bay and lies in front of a public car park and a popular pub. Within close proximity
are several popular caravan and camp sites. A small river known as Fords Lake, which
drains land to the north, flows into Carmarthen Bay and is an important freshwater
influence to the bathing water. The bathing water lies within the Carmarthen Bay and
Estuaries Special Area of Conservation and the surrounding area forms part of the
Saundersfoot to Telpyn Site of Special Scientific Interest. The bathing water is also
located within Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, further highlighting the environmental
value of the area. The bathing water sample point lies at the centre of the beach.
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county name |
Pembrokeshire |
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eso outfalls statement |
Discharges from combined sewer overflows can occur within the vicinity of the bathing
water. These discharges occur when heavy rainfall overwhelms the sewerage system and
causes diluted sewage to spill. This protects domestic properties in the catchment
from being flooded by sewage during heavy rainfall.
There are combined sewer overflows located within the catchment which may, under severe
weather conditions discharge untreated sewage effluent to surface waters interacting
with Wiseman’s Bridge bathing water.
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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 in partnership with the Pembrokeshire County Council and
Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water. These are carried out pre-season (before the 1st May) and mid-season,
if required (during the bathing water season).
This beach was newly designated for 2012. Investigations carried out by Natural Resources
Wales during 2012 have helped to identify potential pollution sources to the bathing
water with a view to reducing their impact.
Problems were discovered with residential and commercial sewage discharges. In some
circumstances the discharges were found to be having a minimal impact but required
registration as exempt. Larger discharges were discovered without Environmental Permits
and considerable work has been undertaken to provide pre-application advice to ensure
these are legalised and ultimately compliant with the forthcoming permits. Whilst
one cess pit was discovered as a significant pollution source, there are several others
which require careful monitoring and improvements sought as required.
It is uncertain whether full sewage discharge compliance in the Step aside – Wisemans
Bridge area would make the required improvements to significantly lower the risk of
failing Guideline or Imperative bathing water standards. Further modelling may provide
a clearer picture of the capacity of this area to receive treated sewage discharges.
In the upper catchment there are continued pollution risks from land management in
the agricultural sector. Land use and farm infrastructure will continue to be monitored.
The storage and spreading of slurries on land that has been compacted through poor
management or during poor soil / weather conditions are likely to be the highest risks
here.
Improvements made over the next three years will be critical in helping Wiseman‟s
Bridge bathing water meet the Sufficient or Good Status of the revised Bathing Water
Directive. Further there is a potential for Wiseman‟s Bridge to become a Site of High
Public Interest revolving around the threat that this popular beach could have signs
erected advising of pollution if further improvements are not made by the end of 2015.
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local authority statement |
Natural Resources Wales and Pembrokeshire County Council will continue to work together
to improve the bathing water quality at Wiseman’s Bridge.
Without mains sewerage in the pipeline, more work is required by EAW/NRW and Pembrokeshire
County Council to ensure that all residential and commercial premises with private
sewage storage, treatment or disposal are compliant with the conditions of their Environmental
Permit or registered Exemption.
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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 misconnections are investigated by Pembrokeshire County Council.
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 |
The Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water sewage treatment works at Templeton discharges directly
to Fords Lake. However, this sewage treatment works is in the head waters of the catchment
which will reduce its impact on 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 comprises
largely of dairy pasture and sheep grazing. Closer to the beach there are several
caravan sites and small settlements. Fords Lake (a small river) drains land to the
north and flows through the attractive ‘Pleasant Valley’ woodland before issuing out
onto of the beach
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bathing water |
ukl1403-37940 |
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local authority |
Sir Benfro - Pembrokeshire |
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standard language collection |
2014-37940:1
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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 |
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