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2023 Bathing Water Profile for Aberdaron

http://environment.data.gov.uk/wales/bathing-waters/data/bathing-water-profile/ukl1200-39950/2023:1

  • bathing water description
    The bathing water is located in a bay, south facing, and is predominantly sandy in nature with a pebbly foreshore. The beach is backed by the village of Aberdaron, and then agricultural land. The bathing water lies in the Lleyn Peninsula and the Sarnau Special Area of Conservation. To the west is the Glannau Aberdaron Site of Special Scientific Interest and to the east the Wig Bach a'r Glannau to Borth Alwm Site of Special Scientific Interest. The water quality sample point lies opposite the end of the concrete slipway.
  • county name
    Gwynedd
  • ea investigations statement
    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.
  • eso outfalls statement
    A project known as Event Duration Monitoring (EDM) was undertaken 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. three CSOs near Llanfairfechan were included in the project.
  • history statement
    Natural Resources Wales has developed a good working relationship with Dŵr Cymru and liaises regularly to identify problems that could affect bathing water quality. The sewage in Aberdaron is pumped from the village to the sewage treatment works. The pumping station is at Henfaes Car Park, near to the mouth of the Daron.
  • macro algae statement
    This bathing water does not have a history of large amounts of seaweed (macroalgae).
  • 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. There are no known misconnections in the Aberdaron area.
  • phytoplankton statement
    Phytoplankton (microscopic algae) naturally increase in number at certain times of the year. This process is known as 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.
  • pollution risk forecasting
    false
  • pref label
    2023 Bathing Water Profile for Aberdaron
  • streams rivers statement
    Streams are typically affected by sewage or industrial run off from further up the catchment. The main stream flowing into Aberdaron is the Daron. The Daron is made up of the Cyll y Felin (from Rhoshirwaen/Rhydlios) and the Daron itself that drains from the Rhiw area. Both these watercourses have the potential to result in reduced water quality after heavy rainfall.
  • stw outfalls statement
    The sewage treatment works discharges into the Afon Daron approximately 80 metres before it discharges into the sea, upstream of the bathing water. Storage at the pumping station was increased to reduce spills and the sewage treatment works (STW) has been upgraded to include tertiary ultra-violet disinfection to help protect bathing water quality.
  • version string
    1
  • 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 Aberdaron, data are available for the four year assessment period from 2021-2024. Sewage debris was not observed at this bathing water. 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 over fifty per cent of occasions. Oil and tarry residues were not noted at this site.
  • working with farmers statement
    The type of farming in the Daron catchment is mainly mixed beef and sheep, with a few dairy farms. The Cyll y Felin catchment on the eastern side has been identified in WAG surveys as being an area impacted by agriculture. To the west of the beach the Saint (a small stream) runs onto the beach through Porth Simdde. This similarly drains a predominantly agricultural catchment, with some private housing. A number of farms visits were carried out in 2011 to review practices and ensure that they were not adversely affecting bathing water quality as a result of contaminated runoff entering watercourses in the catchment.
  • working with industry statement
    There is no industry as such in the catchment. Farming is the predominant land use.
  • working with private owners statement
    Approximately 6 farms in the catchment have small caravan sites, mainly discharging to septic tanks. A couple of campsites are particularly large, and are prone to increased visitors during peak periods. The village of Rhoshirwaun is not connected to mains sewerage, but will have septic tanks located near to individual properties. Poorly maintained private sewage treatment facilities could be a source of pollution, therefore the registration of all private sewage systems in Wales was required by 30 June 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 were identified in the catchment that were not on mains sewerage, Natural Resources Wales endeavoured to ensure registration was made.
  • zoi description
    The natural drainage (hydrological) catchment is relatively low lying with large areas of grazing land dominating the landscape behind the bathing water.
  • bathing water

    Aberdaron

  • local authority
    Gwynedd - Gwynedd
  • source
  • standard language collection

    2023 39950:1

    • 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.
    • 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.
    • 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.
    • 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.
    • stw outfalls general statement
      Discharges from sewage treatment works have improved substantially in Wales since the 1980s.
  • web res image
    ukl1200 39950 1 webres.jpg

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