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| bathing water description |
Measuring approximately 900m in length, the bay is sandy, backed by an extensive dune
system, with limestone cliffs on either side. Situated on the south west coast of
Anglesey, the bay is considered to be fairly remote, due to its 1 kilometre proximity
from the nearest road way. The dune system is protected and listed as a Special Area
of Conservation, with the beach area making up part of the Tywyn to Aberffraw Site
of Special Scientific Interest, confirming the high conservation status of the Area.
The site also lies within the Anglesey Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The water
quality sample point lies at the north end of the beach, 150 metres south of the cliffs.
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| county name |
Isle of Anglesey |
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| eso outfalls statement |
There is one intermittent discharge in this catchment. Aberffraw Sewage Pumping Station
discharges directly into the Ffraw upstream of the bathing water.
A project known as Event Duration Monitoring (EDM) is underway to install telemetry
on Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs) within 2km of a bathing water by 2020 so that Dŵr
Cymru Welsh Water (DCWW) know when the CSOs are operating and can work to reduce spills.
Two CSOs near Aberffraw are included in the project.
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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
Aberffraw. Some of this work is carried out in partnership with Anglesey Council 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).
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| local authority statement |
Natural Resources Wales continues to work with Anglesey Council to maintain the high
standard of water quality at Aberffraw.
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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.
Algal Blooms can occur at any beach during the bathing season and are usually noticeable
by a surface scum. This beach has no history of such blooms.
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| source |
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| stw outfalls statement |
Aberffraw Sewage Treatment Works discharges secondary-treated sewage into Aberffraw
Bay. There is also a consented discharge of settled storm sewage within the catchment
that discharges into the Bay. Gwalchmai Sewage Treatment Works discharges to the river
quite far upstream.
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| version string |
1 |
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| visible pollution statement |
Natural Resources Wales samplers make visual observations of the beach at every visit.
This includes assessments of sewage debris, animal faeces, litter and oil or tar.
At Aberffraw, data are available for the four year assessment period from 2011-2014.
Sewage debris was observed in trace amounts on less than ten per cent of occasions.
Animal faeces was noted in trace amounts on a minority of occasions and in greater
amounts on one occasion in June 2013. Trace amounts of litter were observed at the
bathing water the majority of the time and in greater amounts on less than ten per
cent of additional occasions. Oil and tarry residues were not noted at this site.
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| zoi description |
The natural drainage (hydrological) catchment surrounding the bathing water is primarily
rural. The village of Aberffraw sits at the lower end of the catchment, with the rest
of the area dominated by agricultural land and isolated dwellings. The River Ffraw
and River Gwna drain the catchment for approximately 8 kilometres, meeting the sea
at Aberffraw.
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| bathing water |
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| local authority |
Sir Ynys Mon - Isle of Anglesey |
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| standard language collection |
2015-39985:1
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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 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 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. The following sections serve to highlight potential sources of
pollution, conditions under which they may arise and measures being put in place to
improve water quality.
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| stw outfalls general statement |
Discharges from sewage treatment works have improved substantially in Wales since
the 1980s.
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| web res image |
ukl1100-39985_1-webres.jpg |
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