Title: Investigation into the 1999 failure of the European Community bathing waters directive at Teignmouth Town Beach (2001)
Author: S. Hunter
Document Type: Monograph
Annotation: EA additional title info: Devon Area internal report January 2001
Abstract:
Teignmouth Town Beach failed to reach the imperative standards for faecal coliforms (FC) in 1999. Guideline standards for FCs have not been achieved between 1990 and 2000. Analysis of historic European Community Bathing Waters Directive (ECBWD) data shows no significant correlation between rainfall and tide with the failures. The data does show a trend towards increased FC counts during onshore winds. The salinity of the samples were
quite high indicating only a small portion of the samples was from a freshwater source. Holcombe Stream is the freshwater input that is associated with Teignmouth on the sampling programme. The Teign Estuary and Holcombe outfall may also have potential to impact upon the beach. Field studies and the historical data showed these are unlikely to have caused the failures. Holcombe outfall has been decommissioned, now Dawlish Waste Water Treatment Works is operational. Catchment investigation highlighted a contaminated pipe discharge approximately 450m to the east of the sampling line. Further investigation revealed this flow originated from an abandoned surface water siphon that was found to be still operating; we have located one domestic sewage misconnection into this pipeline. The pipeline discharges to the inter-tidal zone. This contamination could have contributed to the 1999 failure and could potentially lead to further bathing water failures at Teignmouth. The source of the siphon pipe was traced to the head of the Brimley Brook outfall tunnel situated at Haldon Avenue. A blockage at Haldon Avenue resulting from a collapsed culvert may be contributing to flow in the siphon pipe.
Publisher: Environment Agency
Publication Date: 2001
Publication Place: Exeter
Subject Keywords: Bathing water; Biodiversity; Rainfall; Coasts; Beaches; Water quality surveys; Discharge (hydrology); Sewage
Geographic Keywords: Teignmouth; Teign; South Devon catchment
Extent: 31
Permalink: http://www.environmentdata.org/archive/ealit:594
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