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bathing water description |
This sandy beach, approximately 1 km across, faces south east over Carmarthen Bay
and is backed by sand dunes, a golf course and the village of Penally. The River Ritec
drains land to the north and west, flowing in to the sea at Tenby and is the dominant
freshwater influence to the bathing water. There is also a small stream running down
the beach which drains marshland behind the dune system. The bathing water lies within
1 km of the Carmarthen Bay and Estuaries Special Area of Conservation and the surrounding
area forms part of the Lydstep Head to Tenby Burrows 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 Tenby and Penally
from being flooded by sewage during heavy rainfall.
There are several combined sewer overflows and storm overflows located within the
catchment which may, under severe weather conditions discharge untreated sewage effluent
to surface waters. Even so, these will have a reduced impact at Penally as they discharge
in and near to Tenby, approximately 2 km away. Furthermore, pumping stations and combined
sewer overflows in the catchment have recently been upgraded to reduce the frequency
of spills.
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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 |
This beach is newly designated for 2012. Investigations carried out by Natural Resources
Wales during 2012 will identify potential pollution sources to the bathing water and
seek to reduce their impact.
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).
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local authority statement |
Natural Resources Wales and Pembrokeshire County Council will be working together
to improve the bathing water quality at Penally.
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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 does not have a history of such blooms.
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source |
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stw outfalls statement |
Penally's sewage effluent is pumped to the relatively new Tenby Wastewater Treatment
Works at Gumfreston, where it is biologically treated and disinfected with ultra-violet
light, to protect the bathing water quality at Tenby beaches and Penally.
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version string |
1 |
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zoi description |
The natural drainage (hydrological) catchment surrounding the bathing water is approximately
40 square kilometres. The River Ritec feeds into a culvert at Tenby South Beach, issuing
into the sea just offshore. This river drains the town of Tenby, the village of St
Florence and a large agricultural area. The most notable settlements in the catchment
are Penally, St Florence to the north and Tenby to the north east.
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bathing water |
ukl1403-38210 |
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local authority |
Sir Benfro - Pembrokeshire |
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standard language collection |
2014-38210:1
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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 |
ukl1403-38210_1-webres.jpg |
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