Update on water quality issue at Coastguards Beach

Last November the Environment Agency (EA) issued the water quality classifications for Coastguards Beach. This was the first season of testing since Bathing Water status was granted in early 2024.

Disappointingly, but unsurprisingly, the classification was ‘Poor’, which they announced last November..

Now that Coastguards has Bathing Water status, the EA is obliged to investigate and take steps to remedy the water quality issue. Only three Bathing Waters in the whole of Devon and Cornwall had a ‘Poor’ classification so WATER has been lobbying for both EA and South West Water (SWW) to make Coastguards a priority for action.

Environment Agency discussions

WATER attended a meeting in early April with a senior Environment Agency team along with representatives from Catchment Sensitive Farming and SW Devon Environmental Health.

WATER has offered to support and/or compliment the work of the investigation team who will now be testing water quality weekly at: Mothecombe, Coastguards, Ayleston Brook, Sheepham Brook and Sequers Bridge. All locations will be tested on the same day.

There will be a catchment walkover of the Ayleston Brook. Additional investigations on farms are dependent on available resources. There have been two EA regulatory visits in the catchment this year with more planned.

Signage at the beach about water quality will be produced by SW Devon Environmental Health with four location points envisaged, but not yet identified.

South West Water discussions

Following a major restructuring at SWW, a preliminary phone discussion took place at the end of March  with the new Green First Project Manager. It was a constructive dialogue with a number of actions agreed including the following:

  • A meeting in May with SWW’s Operations Area Manager.
  • Clarification of SWW’s obligations with respect to the ‘Poor’ classification at Coastguards Beach.
  • Visit to Modbury WwTW (Waste water Treatment Works) with SWW Asset Manager and Environmental scientists.
  • Map of sewage system for the Erme’s catchment to be supplied to WATER and a site visit to the area to be arranged. 

Key outcomes for Coastguards Beach from government bathing water regulations review.

Following the government’s recent consultation (to which WATER made a submission) and subsequent review, the following are the key outcomes affecting Coastguards Beach:

  • Automatic de-designation after 5 years of ‘Poor’ classification has been removed but designation will still rely on results of a feasibility study (not yet specified).
  • Removal of fixed dates for Bathing Water season (requires more clarity on what this actually means in practice).
  • The term ‘bathers’ will still only apply to swimmers but there are ‘future plans’ to address this although no dates for these plans are given.
  • WATER will continue to work in cooperation with Surfers Against Sewage in monitoring the above issues as well as the specific aspects of bathing water quality at Coastguards.

Further Actions by WATER

Meetings are arranged with local MPs Caroline Voaden and Rebecca Smith, when all the above topics will be discussed. WATER will seek their support for prompt and meaningful actions by EA and SWW.