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bathing water description |
This beach is approximately 800 metres across, facing south across Milford Haven Waterway
and lies in front of low sandstone cliffs to the south west of Herbrandston. A small
caravan site is also located on the cliffs above the beach. Sandy Haven Pill, which
is the dominant freshwater influence to the bathing water, drains land to the north
and finally flows into the tranquil Sandy Haven Estuary. The bathing water lies within
the Pembrokeshire Marine Special Area of Conservation and the surrounding coast forms
part of the Milford Haven Waterway 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 from being flooded
by sewage during heavy rainfall.
There are two storm overflows in this catchment that relieve Tiers Cross and Herbrandston
sewage treatment works during severe rainfall. The storm overflow at Herbrandston
may significantly affect water quality at Sandy Haven under severe rainfall due to
its proximity to the beach.
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history statement |
The catchment affecting Sandy Haven bathing water has little sewerage infrastructure.
There are sewage treatment works at Tiers Cross in the head waters of the catchment,
which will have a negligible impact on the bathing water. The dominant sewage treatment
network influencing this bathing water is Herbrandston to the north east.
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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 Sandy Haven.
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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 |
Two sewage treatment works discharge treated effluent within Sandy Haven bathing water
catchment. Tiers Cross sewage treatment works discharges in the headwaters of Sandy
Haven Pill. Herbrandston sewage treatment works discharges treated sewage effluent
to coastal waters at cliffs, 250 metres to the south east of the bathing water
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version string |
1 |
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zoi description |
The natural drainage (hydrological) catchment surrounding the bathing water is approximately
25 square kilometres and largely consists of intensive agricultural land with small
settlements, caravan sites and farm buildings. The most notable settlement in the
catchment is the village of Herbrandston. An oil refinery also lies within the boundary
of the catchment.
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bathing water |
ukl1403-38255 |
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local authority |
Sir Benfro - Pembrokeshire |
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standard language collection |
2014-38255:1
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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 |
ukl1403-38255_1-webres.jpg |
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