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bathing water description |
The bay faces south west towards the Bristol Channel, measuring approximately 2.5
kilometres, at low tide. The beach is made up of sand with rock pavements and pebbles
at the high tide mark. The town of Porthcawl backs onto the south-east end of the
bay, while the north-west end is backed by the Royal Porthcawl Golf Course. The water
quality sample point is located at the centre of the beach, in line with the life
guard hut.
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county name |
Bridgend |
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eso outfalls statement |
Storm sewer discharges near Hutchwns Point and Irongate Point can operate when heavy
rainfall overwhelms the sewerage system. These protect domestic properties in Porthcawl
from being flooded by sewage and storm water during heavy rainfall.
There are numerous storm outfalls that discharge into the river Ogmore and its tributaries
near to Rest Bay. Water quality in streams or rivers may decline after periods of
heavy rainfall.
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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 |
Natural Resources Wales continues to work to establish sources of pollution around
Rest Bay. Some of this work is carried out in partnership with the Bridgend County
Borough Council.
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).
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local authority statement |
Natural Resources Wales works with Bridgend County Borough Council to safeguard bathing
water quality at Rest Bay. Pre-season inspections are conducted in liaison with the
local authority. Natural Resources Wales is a member of the Rest Bay Management Group,
facilitated by the local authority.
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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 |
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 |
Pen-y -Bont Wastewater Treatment Works discharges into the estuary of the River Ogmore,
approximately 7 km to the east. Disinfection through ultra-violet treatment of the
effluent protects the 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 highly
diverse. The town of Bridgend is located in the lower catchment, with several smaller
urban areas located along the length of the tributaries of the River Ogmore. The urban
areas are a mixture of residential and light industry. Further into the catchment
there are some forested areas and upland hill farming, predominantly sheep.
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bathing water |
ukl1701-36700 |
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local authority |
Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr - Bridgend |
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standard language collection |
2014-36700:1
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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 |
ukl1701-36700_1-webres.jpg |
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