This is a small cove on the south Gower coast, west of Mumbles village. The gently
sloping beach is a mixture of sand and rocks, backed by a bank of pebbles and limestone
cliffs. Above the beach is a large car park, restaurant and children’s play area.
Bracelet Bay is a designated Site of Special Geological Interest, confirming the high
conservation status of the area. The water quality sample point is located at the
centre of the beach.
Mumbles (Knab Rock) Sewage Pumping Station has an emergency and storm overflow approximately
1.3 kilometres from the water quality sample point, which can discharge off Mumbles
Head, but only at certain times of an ebbing tide.
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.
Natural Resources Wales work to establish sources of pollution around Bracelet Bay.
Some of this work is carried out in partnership with the City and County of Swansea
and Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water.
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).
Natural Resources Wales and the City and County of Swansea have been working together
to monitor and maintain the bathing water quality at Swansea for a number of years.
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.
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.
Due to the limestone geology in the area, there are no streams on the surface of this
catchment. Rain which falls onto the land can percolate through the rock fissures
onto the beach.
Natural Resources Wales continues to work with private owners regarding potential
pollution sources to the bathing water. This work involves where necessary, advisory
mail drops, dye tracing, misconnection surveys and face to face meetings.
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.
Bracelet Bay is located at the end of a headland, as such the natural drainage (hydrological)
catchment surrounding the bathing water is almost non existent. There are no watercourses
running onto the beach, but the rocks in the area are limestone, which allow rainfall
to percolate through the rock fissures and resurface at the beach.
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.
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.
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.
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.