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| pollution risk forecasting |
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| bathing water description |
Known locally as Porth Mawr, this sandy, west facing beach is approximately 700 metres
in length, backed by limestone rocks and agricultural land. This beach is particularly
popular with surfers and other water sport enthusiasts alike. There is a small stream
which drains onto the beach from the agricultural land, below Carn Llidi. The coastal
waters and coastal belt form part of the Pembrokeshire Marine Special Area of Conservation,
confirming the high conservation status of the area. The bathing water also lies within
Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. The designated sample point is located south of
the car park.
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| county name |
Pembrokeshire |
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| eso outfalls statement |
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 Whitesands 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 works to establish sources of pollution around Whitesands.
Some of this work is carried out in partnership with Pembrokeshire County Council.
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).
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| local authority statement |
Natural Resources Wales works with Pembrokeshire County Council and to ensure the
water quality at Whitesands maintains its high standard.
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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 |
Wrongly connected waste water pipes can affect the water quality of rivers and the
sea. Any misconnections are investigated by Pembrokeshire County Council. Historically
misconnections have been identified and removed.
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. 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.
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| source |
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| stw outfalls statement |
There are no sewage treatment works which discharge in the vicinity of this bathing
water.
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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 Whitesands, 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.
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| zoi description |
The small natural drainage (hydrological) catchment surrounding the bathing water
is agricultural, with several scattered single dwellings.
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| bathing water |
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| local authority |
Sir Benfro - Pembrokeshire |
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| standard language collection |
2023-38500:1
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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 |
ukl1403-38500_1-webres.jpg |
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