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2023 Bathing Water Profile for Castle Beach, Tenby

http://environment.data.gov.uk/wales/bathing-waters/data/bathing-water-profile/ukl1403-38150/2023:1

  • bathing water description
    This small cove is located at the north east end of the South Beach, opposite St Catherine’s Island. This is the smallest of Tenby’s three beaches, being 150 metres wide at low tide. The beach is backed by steep cliffs, with the town of Tenby above. This beach can be heavily populated with holiday-makers on sunny days and is where the boat to Caldey Island launches. The bay is located within the Carmarthen Bay Special Area of Conservation, with the cliffs and St Catherine’s Island being listed as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, confirming the high conservation status of the area. The bathing water also lies within Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. The water quality sample point is located at the centre of the beach.
  • county name
    Pembrokeshire
  • ea investigations statement
    Natural Resources Wales continues to work with Pembrokeshire County Council and Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water to identify any sources of pollution. 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 15th of May) and mid-season, if required (during the bathing water season).
  • eso outfalls statement
    Within the Tenby catchment there are a number of storm, emergency and surface water outfalls, that discharge around the town. These protect domestic properties in Tenby from being flooded by sewage during periods of heavy rainfall. The main pumping stations are in Tenby Harbour and at the Salterns. The Harbour Pumping Station has recently been upgraded to improve performance.
  • 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.
  • local authority statement
    Natural Resources Wales continues to work with Pembrokeshire County Council to identify any sources of pollution.
  • macro algae statement
    This bathing water does not have a history of large amounts of seaweed (macroalgae).
  • misconnections statement
    Wrongly connected waste water pipes can affect the water quality of rivers and the sea. Any suspect misconnections will be passed to Pembrokeshire County Council for investigation. 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 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 does not have a history of such blooms.
  • pollution risk forecasting
    false
  • pref label
    2023 Bathing Water Profile for Castle Beach, Tenby
  • streams rivers statement
    Streams and rivers are typically affected by sewage or industrial run off from further up the catchment. Castle Beach Tenby can be influenced by the freshwater of the River Ritec, which flows into the sea off Tenby South Beach. There are also numerous surface water drains which empty into the waters around Tenby which may sometimes be a source of reduced water quality, after heavy rainfall. High flows in streams, rivers and sewers due to heavy rainfall can affect water quality.
  • stw outfalls statement
    Tenby's sewage effluent is pumped to the relatively new Tenby Wastewater Treatment Works at Gumfreston, where it is biologically treated and disinfected with ultra-violet light, to protect the bathing water quality at Tenby beaches. This tertiary treated sewage is then discharged via, a long sea outfall.
  • 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 Castle Beach, Tenby, 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 between ten and twenty per cent of occasions. Oil and tarry residues were not noted at this site.
  • working with farmers statement
    Significant areas of pastureland, occupied by livestock, feature in the largely agricultural catchment outside Tenby and Penally. A programme of farm visits is carried out each year, to monitor farming methods and share best practice.
  • working with private owners statement
    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. Natural Resources Wales places a high value on public participation in helping to trace sources of environmental pollution. Natural Resources Wales welcomes any comments or information from the pubic with regards to environmental pollution.
  • zoi description
    The natural drainage (hydrological) catchment surrounding the bathing water comprises of limestone cliffs and Tenby Town in the immediate background. The River Ritec feeds into a culvert at Tenby South Beach, issuing into the sea just offshore. This river drains the town of Tenby, the village of St Florence and a large agricultural area.
  • bathing water

    Castle Beach, Tenby

  • local authority
    Sir Benfro - Pembrokeshire
  • source
  • standard language collection

    2023 38150:1

    • 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
    ukl1403 38150 1 webres.jpg

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