Also known as Porth Swtan, the bay is located on the north coast of Anglesey, facing west overlooking Holyhead. The beach consists of rock, pebble and sand, backed by cliffs, edged by rocks with many rock pools. Church Bay falls within the Anglesey Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, with the Clegir Mawr Site of Special Scientific Interest located at the north of the bay. It also lies within the Anglesey Heritage Coast designation. The water quality sample point is located at the centre of the bay.
Investigations will be undertaken where and when necessary e.g. where there are elevated bacterial results in the bathing water that cannot be simply explained due to weather conditions.
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.
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.
Streams are typically affected by sewage or industrial run off from further up the catchment. There are no known direct sewage discharges into the stream that runs onto the south end of this beach, although there are numerous septic tanks located near the stream. This could potentially be a source of reduced water quality during periods of heavy rain fall.
Rhydwyn Sewage Treatment Works is located inland above the cliffs, approximately 1.2 kilometres from the beach. This discharges secondary treated sewage to a small watercourse, which drains to a small bay more than 0.5 kilometres south of Church Bay.
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 Church Bay, data are available for the four year assessment period from 2020-2023. Sewage debris was observed in trace amounts on less than ten per cent of occasions. Trace amounts of animal faeces were noted at the site on a minority of occasions. Trace amounts of litter were observed at the bathing water on between ten and twenty per cent of occasions. Oil and tarry residues were not noted at this site.
Natural Resources Wales continues to work with private owners regarding potential pollution sources to the bathing water. The private domestic owners, located above the beach are not connected to the main sewage system and have private sewage treatment arrangements. Poorly maintained private sewage treatment facilities could be a source of pollution. There is a requirement for all private sewage system operators/owners in Wales to register for an exemption as is the requirement since 2012. The primary aim of this exercise was to provide increased protection for the environment and sensitive features such as bathing water beaches. Where properties are identified in the catchment that are not on mains sewerage, Natural Resources Wales will endeavour to ensure registration has been made.
The natural drainage (hydrological) catchment surrounding the bathing water is primarily rural. Most is agricultural land with pasture and some rough grazing on the cliffs. The land above the cliffs is relatively flat, with isolated dwellings scattered throughout the upper catchment.
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 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 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.
