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2023 Bathing Water Profile for Penally

http://environment.data.gov.uk/wales/bathing-waters/data/bathing-water-profile/ukl1403-38210/2023:1

  • bathing water description
    This sandy beach, approximately 1 km across, faces south east over Carmarthen Bay and is backed by sand dunes, a golf course and the village of Penally. The River Ritec drains land to the north and west, flowing in to the sea at Tenby and is the dominant freshwater influence to the bathing water. There is also a small stream running down the beach which drains marshland behind the dune system. The bathing water lies within 1 km of the Carmarthen Bay and Estuaries Special Area of Conservation and the surrounding area forms part of the Lydstep Head to Tenby Burrows Site of Special Scientific Interest. The bathing water is also located within Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, further highlighting the environmental value of the area. The bathing water sample point lies at the centre of the beach.
  • county name
    Pembrokeshire
  • ea investigations statement
    This beach is newly designated for 2012. Investigations carried out by Natural Resources Wales during 2012 will identify potential pollution sources to the bathing water and seek to reduce their impact. Inspections are carried out in partnership with the Pembrokeshire County Council and Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water. These are carried out pre-season (before the 15th of May) and mid-season, if required (during the bathing water season).
  • eso outfalls statement
    Discharges from combined sewer overflows can occur within the vicinity of the bathing water. These discharges occur when heavy rainfall overwhelms the sewerage system and causes diluted sewage to spill. This protects domestic properties in Tenby and Penally from being flooded by sewage during heavy rainfall. There are several combined sewer overflows and storm overflows located within the catchment which may, under severe weather conditions discharge untreated sewage effluent to surface waters. Even so, these will have a reduced impact at Penally as they discharge in and near to Tenby, approximately 2 km away. Furthermore, pumping stations and combined sewer overflows in the catchment have recently been upgraded to reduce the frequency of spills.
  • 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 and Pembrokeshire County Council will be working together to improve the bathing water quality at Penally.
  • 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 misconnections are investigated by Pembrokeshire County Council. 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 Penally
  • streams rivers statement
    Streams and rivers are typically affected by sewage or industrial run off from further up the catchment. Penally bathing water may be influenced by the run off of surface water draining surrounding pastoral land during wet weather conditions. Run off from roads, properties and urban storm drainage may also influence bathing water quality.
  • stw outfalls statement
    Penally'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 and Penally.
  • 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 Penally, data are available for the four year assessment period from 2021-2024. Sewage debris was not observed at this bathing water. Animal faeces was not noted at this site. Trace amounts of litter were observed at the bathing water on less than ten 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 of Penally. Natural Resources Wales works with the agricultural community to discuss best practice where the potential for pollution exists.
  • 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 is approximately 40 square kilometres. 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. The most notable settlements in the catchment are Penally, St Florence to the north and Tenby to the north east.
  • bathing water

    Penally

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

    2023 38210:1

    • 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 38210 1 webres.jpg

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