A CHARITY has issued a warning regarding 25 beach and seafront locations in Wales that have been affected by storm sewage or received a poor water classification. Surfers Against Sewage, a prominent marine conservation and campaigning charity in the UK, has posted these alerts on its website.
According to the charity, there have been recent instances of storm sewage in the past 48 hours in areas including Colwyn Bay, Llyn Padarn, Criccieth, New Quay, Llangrannog, Cilborth, Newport, Nolton Haven, Little Haven, Broadhaven, Dale, West Angle, Barafundle, Manorbier, Tenby, Saundersfoot, Pembrey, Swansea, and Ogmore.
The charity explained sewage pollution as “everything we flush down the loo or wash down the drain that is released into the environment through sewer overflows, or that washes off the land and roads.” This pollution poses serious concerns for marine environments and coastal communities.
Colwyn Bay Porth Eirias
The charity writes: “Pollution alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours. The bay is situated on the north Wales coastline, to the east of Rhos Point, approximately 10 kilometres from the Great Orme headland. The beach is long and sandy, with a concrete promenade to the rear. The sample point is located to the left/west of the building at Porth Eirias car park and down the beach. The sample is taken 250 metre to the left of the stones – half way between Porth Eirias Centre and the pier.”
Colwyn Bay
The charity writes: Pollution alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours. The bay is situated on the north Wales coastline, to the east of Rhos Point, approximately 10 kilometres from the Great Orme headland. The beach is long and sandy, with a concrete promenade to the rear. The water quality sample point is located in front of the Cayley Promenade opposite the lifebuoy and the white tower.”
Llyn Padarn
The charity writes: Pollution alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours. The bathing water is located on the western side of Llyn Padarn, which is a fresh water lake in Snowdonia. It is located close to the village of Llanberis with its cafes and other tourist attractions. The beach has a shallow slope and then once in the water it gets deep quite quickly – up to 1 metre deep within 1.5 metres of entering the water. The beach is gravelly. Once in the water the substrate consists of gravel and small pieces of slate which turns into stones and larger slates within a metre or two of entering the water. The site has a jetty which was previously used in the London Olympics.”
Criccieth
The charity writes: “Pollution alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours. The beach is south facing, made up of sand and pebble, located to the west of Porthmadog and backed by a promenade. The water quality sample point is located opposite the public toilets. The bathing water lies within the Lleyn Peninsula and the Sarnau special area of conservation. To the east is the Tiroedd a Glannau Rhwng Cricieth AC Afon Glaslyn site of special scientific interest, and to the west is the Glanllynnau a Glannau Pen-ychain I Cricieth site of special scientific interest. This bathing water is subject to short term pollution. Short term pollution is caused when heavy rainfall washes faecal material into the sea from livestock, sewage and urban drainage via rivers and streams.”
New Quay Harbour
The charity writes: Pollution Alert: storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours. Facing north east and located within the waters of Cardigan Bay, New Quay Harbour is backed by steep limestone cliffs and the town of New Quay. The beach is small, sandy and sheltered by the harbour wall. The coastal waters and coastal belt are designated as the Cardigan Bay special area of conservation and Aberarth Cerreg Wylan site of special scientific interest, confirming the high conservation status of the area. The water quality sample point is located to the centre of the beach.”
Traeth Gwyn New Quay
The charity writes: “Pollution alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours. Facing north and located within the waters of Cardigan Bay, Traeth Gwyn is a sandy cove, backed by steep cliffs. Traeth Gwyn is potentially impacted by numerous sewer and surface water outfalls within the main freshwater rivers particularly during heavy rainfall.”
Llangrannog
The charity writes: Pollution alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours. Measuring just over 100 metres in width, with interbedded mudstone and sandstone cliffs on either side, the sandy, sheltered beach has a distinctive large rock on the shore’s edge. This location is covered by pollution risk forecasting.”
Cilborth
The charity writes: “Pollution alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours. This is a small secluded pretty cove to the north of Llangrannog and is frequently photographed. It lies next to the designated bathing water at Llangrannog. Measuring approximately 100 metres in width, with interbedded mudstone and sandstone cliffs on either side, the sandy, sheltered beach has a distinctive large rock on the shore´s edge. The bathing water can either be accessed at low tide from Llangrannog or via the coastal path. The coastal waters and coastal belt are designated as the Cardigan Bay special area of conservation and the Aberarth Cerreg Wylan site of special scientific interest, confirming the high conservation status of the area. Natural Resources Wales’s designated sample point is located to the centre of the beach.”
Newport North
The charity writes: “Pollution alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours. Newport North is a wide, sweeping and sandy beach measuring some 1.5 km in length. Facing north west out into the Irish Sea, the beach is backed by a golf club and agricultural land. A relatively new sewage treatment works discharges biologically treated sewage effluent via the long sea outfall, some 700m from the coast into Newport Bay.”
Nolton Haven
The charity writes: “Pollution alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours. This beach is less than 150 metres across, facing west out to St Brides Bay and is sheltered within a small cove in front of Nolton Haven village. A small stream drains into the bathing water from steep-sided pastoral land. The bathing water lies within the Pembrokeshire Marine special area of conservation and the cliffs to the north and south form part of the Newgale to Little Haven site of special scientific interest. The bathing water is also located within Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, further highlighting the environmental value of the area.”
Little Haven
The charity writes: “Pollution alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours. This beach is approximately 100 metres across, facing west out to St Brides Bay and is sheltered within a small cove in front of Little Haven village. One small stream drains onto the bathing water from steep sided pastoral land. The bathing water lies within the Pembrokeshire Marine special area of conservation and the cliffs to the north and south form part of the Newgale to Little Haven site of special scientific interest. The bathing water is also located within Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, further highlighting the environmental value of the area.”
Broadhaven Beach
The charity writes: “Pollution Alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours. Next to Little Haven and joined at low tide, Broadhaven sits at the southern end of St Brides Bay and is a long sandy beach backed by high cliffs and the rural town of Broad Haven. A sewer overflow discharges into a small stream in the centre of the beach which may affect water quality.”
Dale
The charity writes: “Pollution alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours. The beach stretches approximately 600 metres and is made up of a mixture of shingle and muddy sand, facing south east towards the Milford Haven Waterway. The land surrounding the bathing water is predominantly agricultural, with some private dwellings in the vicinity. At low tide, access to the water can be made difficult by mud. Dale Beach forms 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.”
West Angle
The charity writes: “Pollution alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours. This sheltered beach is a small stretch of sand, measuring approximately 250 metres in length, with limestone rocks on either side. Located within Milford Haven Waterway, the bay is positioned just west of its larger neighbour, Angle Bay. The land surrounding West Angle is predominantly agricultural, with an oil refinery four kilometres east of the bay. The coastal waters 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.”
Barafundle
The charity writes: “Pollution Alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours. Measuring 70 metres in length, this sandy east facing beach is backed by Limestone cliffs, dunes and trees. The bay is owned by the National Trust and forms part of the Pembrokeshire Marine Special Area of Conservation. There are no Dwr Cymru assets in the Barafundle catchment. There is a small sewage treatment works serving the village of Stackpole, one kilometre away. This is not known to influence bathing water quality at Barafundle.”
Manorbier
The charity writes: “Pollution alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours. Guarded by the 12th-century Manorbier Castle, this beach is set within the Pembrokeshire National Park and is part of the Pembrokeshire Marine special area of conservation. It is a sandy beach with a pebble ridge at the back and a reef flanking its northern end set within a cove of limestone cliffs. A spring-fed stream meets the sea down the centre of Manorbier. A sewer overflow discharges over the rocks off the headland at the south of the beach.”
Tenby South
The charity writes: “Pollution Alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours. Facing south east towards Caldey Island, this beach is a 2km stretch of sand, the north eastern section forms this bathing water. Within the Tenby catchment there are a number of sewer and surface water outfalls discharging around the town. However, the sewage effluent from Tenby is biologically treated with ultra violet light at Gumfreston to protect bathing water quality around Tenby.”
Castle Beach Tenby
The charity writes: “Pollution alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours.”
Saundersfoot
The charity writes: “Pollution Alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours. A beautiful, sandy expanse of gently sloping sand, backed by a shingle ridge with Saundersfoot harbour at the southern end. Discharges from sewer overflows can occur nearby and affect water quality, especially after heavy rainfall.”
Pembrey
The charity writes: “Pollution alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours. The sandy beach is long, sweeping and slopes gently, which on a low tide can result in the sea being some distance from the shore line. Pembrey is one of the UK´s longest beaches, stretching over 11 kilometres, backing onto the Pembrey Country Park. The beach is located within the Carmarthen Bay and Estuary special area of conservation.”
River Tawe
The charity writes: “Pollution alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours. The River Tawe is popular with anglers are there are pools on the river in most villages where swimming takes place in the summer months. When the CSO is discharging it adversely affects anglers, swimmers, and other members of the community who enjoy the Tawe.”
Langland West
The charity writes: “Pollution alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours. Langland is a wide and sandy bay with pebbles and rocks on either side. It is backed by a promenade with cafes, beach huts, limestone cliffs, and a golf course. Langland pumping station has an overflow, which can discharge to a point just above mean low water.”
Limeslade Bay
The charity writes: Pollution alert: “Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours. Limeslade is a small and tidal cove, found on the south east of the Gower peninsular. On a high tide the beach is almost non-existent and pebbly, but on a low tide, the sand is exposed, along with numerous rock pools. Limeslade pumping station has an emergency overflow, which can discharge to the west of the beach.”
Bracelet Bay
The charity writes: “Pollution alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours. This is a small cove on the south Gower coast, west of Mumbles village. The gently sloping beach is a mixture of sand and rocks, backed by a bank of pebbles and limestone cliffs. Mumbles Sewage pumping station has an emergency and sewer overflow approximately 1.3 kilometres from the water quality sample point, which can discharge off Mumbles Head, but only at certain times of an ebbing tide.”
Ogmore By Sea
The charity writes: “Bathing not advised due to Poor annual classification. A popular sand and pebble beach at the mouth of the River Ogmore. The two-mile-long beach is popular with families, surfers and canoeists. In 2023, the beach was classified as poor, so bathing is not advised.”
