2014 Bathing Water Profile for Marloes Sands
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Measuring approximately 2 kilometres in length, this isolated beach is sandy, with a pebble bank above the high tide mark, backed by steep limestone cliffs. Marloes Sands faces south east into the Bristol Channel, towards Stockholm island. The surrounding land is predominantly agricultural, with the small town of Marloes located 1.3 kilometres north west of the bay. The coastal waters and coastal belt form part of the Pembrokeshire Marine Special Area of Conservation and is also designated as Special Site of Scientific Interest, confirming the high conservation status of the area. The bathing water also lies within Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. The water quality sample point is located at the centre of the bay.
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Pembrokeshire
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Natural Resources Wales works with Pembrokeshire County Council and Marloes & Dale Community Council, to maintain the excellent bathing water quality at Marloes Sands.
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There are no storm or emergency overflows in the vicinity of this bathing water.
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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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2014 Bathing Water Profile for Marloes Sands
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Natural Resources Wales and Pembrokeshire County Council have been working together to monitor and maintain the bathing water quality at Marloes for a number of years.
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This bathing water does not have a history of large amounts of seaweed (macroalgae).
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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 (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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2014 Bathing Water Profile for Marloes Sands
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There is a small stream which runs onto the beach. The water quality of this stream is usually very good, but may deteriorate during periods of heavy rainfall.
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There are no sewage treatment works which discharge in the vicinity of this bathing water.
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Poorly maintained private sewage treatment facilities could be a source of pollution, therefore the registration of all qualifying private sewage systems in Wales was required by 30 June 2012. The primary aim of this exercise is to provide increased protection for the environment and sensitive features such as bathing water beaches. Where discharges from properties are identified in the catchment that are not on mains sewerage, Natural Resources Wales will endeavour to ensure registration has been made, unless already a permitted discharge. Natural Resources Wales places a high value on public participation in helping to trace sources of environmental pollution. Natural Resources Wales welcomes any comments or information from the pubic with regards to environmental pollution.
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The small natural drainage (hydrological) catchment surrounding the bathing water is agricultural, with scattered single dwellings.
